Bruce Jenner denies texting while driving during a chain-reaction vehicle accident on the Pacific Coast Highway on Saturday that killed one person. He told authorities he was trying to evade paparazzi following him.
The paparazzi had posted photos of Jenner on his cellphone while in the vehicle and authorities were trying to determine if the pictures of the former Olympic decathlon gold medalist were taken just before the crash,
according to KABC-TV.
"The evidence will show that Bruce was not texting at the time of the accident," Jenner's publicist Alan Nierob told KABC-TV on Sunday.
Los Angeles Sheriff Office Sgt. Phil Brooks told the television station that determining the exact time of the crash would be the starting point in combing over Jenner's phone records to determine his actions at the time of the accident.
"The problem is pinpointing the time of the accident," said Brooks. "If the accident occurred at 12:05 and 30 seconds, or 12:05 and 40 seconds, if you hung up before that, that's useless information."
Brooks told the
Los Angeles Times that Saturday's accident involved four vehicles. He said a woman driving a Toyota Prius driving northbound on the highway near Malibu slowed down or stopped for an unknown reason.
A woman driving a Lexus sedan then rear-ended the Prius. Jenner, who was driving a black Cadillac Escalade that was hauling an off-road vehicle, then rear-ended the Lexus, pushing the Lexus into oncoming traffic, said Brooks.
A Hummer, traveling southbound on the highway, then collided with the Lexus, according to the Times. The driver of the Lexus, whose name has not been released, died at the scene.
Jenner, who has been the subject of intense tabloid coverage because of rumored gender transition plans, issued a statement after the accident, noted KABC-TV.
"My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident," said Jenner. "It is a devastating tragedy and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them."
Related Stories: