In some tragic news around the sports world, reports are surfacing that former NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife were killed in a car accident in Southern California during the early-morning hours on Wednesday.
“Ex-NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife — a singer who appeared on “American Idol” — were both killed in a single car crash in Studio City, CA early Wednesday morning,” the report read.
The 38-year-old Butler lost control of his Range Rover, hit a parking meter and then a wall before the car itself flipped.
The images from TMZ Sports are harrowing.
Courtesy of TMZ Sports
Butler, a second-round pick of the Miami Heat back in 2002, played parts of 13 seasons in the NBA. He last suited up back in 2015-16, playing 46 games with the San Antonio Spurs.
Butler’s wife, Leah LaBelle, was an R&B singer and finished 12th on Season 3 of American Idol back in 2004.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this young couple.