Car Crashes

Rasual Butler's death is hitting the NBA hard -- with his friends and former teammates sending their condolences to Butler's family.

John Wall -- "I will always remember the time we shared together as teammates, you were the big brother. I appreciate the advice you shared, not just about basketball but life. Sending my deepest condolences to the families of Rasual and Leah. May you both rest in peace."

Blake Griffin -- "You were a great teammate and an even better person. Rest in peace my friend."

LaMarcus Aldridge -- "Devastated to hear the news about the passing of my former teammate, Rasual, & his wife. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families during this difficult time. Rasual was an amazing teammate and an even better person. He will truly be missed!"

Kyle Lowry -- "I remember I called you when you got drafted on draft night and I was at a camp and I wanted to show off because I knew you and you answered the phone for a 16 year old who was one of your biggest fans.. this is truly a sad day for me !! RIP Sual bop my oldhead!!"

Austin Rivers -- "It was a pleasure meeting you man. Getting to work with you last year was amazing. For you were not only a knowledgeable player....but more so a great man! Smh Crazy this just happened. May you and your wife RIP in heaven."

Kevin Love -- "Incredibly sad news to hear about Rasual Butler and his wife Leah. Prayers to both of their families through this tough time."

Ray Allen -- "I cannot believe this!!!!!!!!!My heart is heavy!!! We lost a good one today! RIP Rasual you were such a great talent on the court but an even better man off it! My thoughts are with the entire Butler family as they mourn the tragic loss of their son/brother and his beautiful wife, Leah. Gone too soon. Rest in power."

Reggie Miller -- "Saddened by the news and the loss of Rasual Butler and his wife Leah. Talk about a great dude and family man. I know he had many stops during his 13 year NBA journey, but he was beloved becasue of his work ethic in Indiana. New guardian Angels."

Paul Pierce -- "So sad this morning to here about my friend and teammate 😢 RIP Rasual Butler appreciate the people around u because u never know."

Chauncey Billups -- "I’m shocked, saddened and in disbelief about the news on my friend Rasual Butler and his wife Leah. May God be with their families. We will miss you 'Sul.'"

Allen Iverson -- "Rest easy my brother. See you when I get there!!!"

Shaq -- "Still can’t believe the news about my main man SOOL BOP. #riprasualbutler🏀#THELILHOMIEFROMPHILLY."

Kobe Bryant -- "Rest In Peace my brother #RasualButler."

Miami Heat -- "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and many friends of Rasual and Leah. They will be missed."

L.A. Clippers -- "The L.A. Clippers are deeply saddened by the loss of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. Rasual will long be remembered not only for his accomplishments on the court, but for his vibrant personality, positive outlook and the compassion he had for everyone around him."

House Speaker Paul Ryan and several other GOP Congressional leaders are caught in a train wreck -- and that's not a metaphor.

An Amtrak train carrying Republican members of Congress to a retreat smashed into a garbage truck Wednesday morning in Virginia. The truck was obliterated, and trash is strewn around the scene.

The train also suffered some damage, but all the Congressmen and women survived, but there may be some minor injuries. The truck driver was reportedly killed in the collision.

Rep. Roger Marshall, from Kansas, is an OB/GYN and reportedly helped treat passengers on the train.

Disney star Adam Hicks' world was crumbling long before his arrest for armed robbery, due to his brother doing time, and his mother passing away ... TMZ has learned.

Adam's little brother, Tristan, was the driver in a 2014 car crash in Vegas that killed a 17-year-old girl. Police say she died after she was ejected from the car.

Tristan, who was 18 at the time, took off on foot. He was eventually arrested for fleeing the scene.

Sources tell us Adam had recently gone to Vegas to testify at his brother's parole hearing. Adam paid for Tristan's bail and most of his legal fees during the case.

Things went further south a year later when Adam's mother, Lucy, died unexpectedly from a heart attack. We're told Tristan's accident had weighed heavily on her.

"Happy Gilmore" star Christopher McDonald has been charged with DUI ... TMZ has learned.

The San Bernardino County D.A.'s Office tells TMZ it charged the actor with 2 misdemeanors -- driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher.

We broke the story ... Christopher was busted back in October and allegedly tried playing the celebrity card after driving his Porsche off the highway.

Hours before his arrest ... the "Thelma & Louise" star was seen chugging beer during Oktoberfest in Lake Arrowhead, CA. Christopher's arraignment is scheduled for April.

Steve Wilkos is lucky to be alive after a car crash sent the talk show host and former Jerry Springer bodyguard to the hospital.

Law enforcement sources in Darien, Connecticut tell us Wilkos was involved in a single-car accident Sunday afternoon. We're told his vehicle struck several poles and a tree before ending up on its side ... Wilkos was transported to a local hospital for his injuries but has since been discharged.

Wilkos tells TMZ he typically wears glasses when he drives, but he was not wearing them before the crash. He says he was reaching for his glasses to put them on when he hit the curb and then struck the poles and a tree. Wilkos says he never drinks or does drugs.

Wilkos tells us he's pretty beat up but will be ok. In a terrible coincidence, Wilkos says the same day he crashed, his audio guy on the show and the crew member's wife were driving in the same area when they crashed -- both were killed. Production is set to start back up in a few days.

Wilkos found his fame as Jerry Springer's bodyguard on the popular talk show before creating his own show -- "The Steve Wilkos Show" -- in 2007.

Police tell us the crash remains an "active and open investigation."

Ashanti and her mom were involved in a car accident in Beverly Hills that left the other driver in tears.

Ashanti's mother was behind the wheel of their SUV Monday as they pulled away from a parking spot, and apparently sideswiped a much smaller silver sedan. The damage was pretty obvious, and Ashanti's mom did stop ... momentarily.

The other driver told us Ashanti got her number and info, but pulled off without sharing any of hers. She was pretty torn up about it, and she told us she plans on treating this like a hit and run.

We've reached out to Ashanti's reps, but no word back yet.

10:40 AM -- Fournette was driving his 2017 Maybach at the time of the crash and the bumper was wrecked.

But get this ... he signed the busted bumper and GAVE IT to first responders ... this according to WJXT4's Vic Micolucci.

Close call for Jacksonville Jaguars superstar Leonard Fournette -- who was rear-ended on a Florida interstate ... but he's OKAY!!!!

It all went down Tuesday morning ... a rep for the Jags says Fournette was "involved in a minor car accident today when his car was rear ended."

"Leonard is okay and was able to drive home."

The rookie running back -- who was a big factor in the Jags' playoff win over the Steelers this past Sunday -- was traveling on I-295, about a 10 minute drive from the EverBank Field.

And.... exhale.

Dennis Rodman's DUI problems have gone from bad to worse ... because he was on probation during his arrest on Saturday -- and it likely means he'll be thrown in the slammer.

The probation stems from a plea deal Rodman struck over a July 2016 wrong way crash -- where he was going the wrong way on an Orange County, CA freeway, struck a car and allegedly fled the scene. Witnesses also saw him drinking at a karaoke bar before the crash but he was not charged with DUI for that incident.

However, Rodman was placed on 3 years probation with the condition he stay out of trouble. It was a good deal for Rodman, considering he was facing up to 2 years in prison.

So, what happens next? Officials will likely revoke his probation in the wake of the new arrest and he could be sent to prison for the full 2 years he was originally due to serve in the wrong way crash case PLUS any additional time for the new arrest.

Rodman's rep has told TMZ Sports the NBA player needs rehab -- but it could be too little, too late.

Ex-NFL star Terry Glenn had marijuana in his system during his fatal car crash -- and his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit ... this according to the autopsy report obtained by TMZ Sports.

Glenn's fiancee told police they were returning home from a Dallas Cowboys game on Nov. 20 when Glenn smashed his truck into a concrete divider, ejecting the WR from the vehicle. He suffered major injuries and was pronounced dead a short time later.

At the time, Glenn's fiancee told police she wasn't sure if Glenn had consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel ... but now, toxicology tests reveal he was impaired with a .165 BAC.

Tests also reveal Glenn had significant traces of marijuana in his system -- which could explain why cops found a marijuana grinder and bottle in the crash wreckage.

According to the report, Glenn's cause of death is listed as an "accident" due to blunt force trauma.

Venus Williams insisted to lawyers the traffic light was "always" green as she drove across the intersection where she had the fatal car accident -- but that doesn't match up with what she told police on the scene.

TMZ Sports obtained a portion of Venus' recorded deposition in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against her by Jerome Barson's family. During the depo, taken Nov. 9, Venus repeatedly says she only saw a green light. If true ... it would mean the Barsons, traveling perpendicular to Venus, had run a red light when they t-boned Venus.

The potential problem for Venus is that's not how witnesses remember it, and it's not even how Venus remembered it while talking to Palm Beach Gardens PD. Body cam footage shows her saying, "As I was going to start again, I saw that the light was turning red." The exchange begins at 40 seconds.

If Venus saw the light turning red, that would mean the Barsons did have a green light as they proceeded through the intersection. In fact, according to the police investigation, witnesses said the Barsons DID have a green.

As we reported, the police cleared Venus of any criminal wrongdoing in the accident -- saying neither party was to blame.

Meanwhile, the wrongful death suit is moving forward and likely headed for court where a jury will have to decide if Venus was negligent as she crossed the intersection.

Venus Williams is not at fault for her fatal car accident, but neither is the driver of the other vehicle ... according to the police investigation.

Palm Beach Gardens PD released their findings on Wednesday and said no charges will be filed in the case. Cops say neither Venus nor the Barsons -- the couple in the car that t-boned Venus -- violated the other's right of way.

TMZ Sports got the video which shows exactly what went down in the June 9 car wreck.

Venus told police on the scene she was "caught in the middle" of the intersection because a 3rd vehicle had turned in front of her as the light was turning. You can see that car at about 17 seconds in our video ... the police say it was a Nissan Altima and they spoke to the driver.

They concluded the Altima driver DID violate Venus' right of way. However, police also aren't blaming the Altima driver for the wreck.

The Barsons drove through the intersection when the light turned green and smashed into Venus. Jerome Barson later died from his injuries.

Brittany Snow's allegedly heavy foot just got her sued.

Jose Erazo Gomez is suing the 'Pitch Perfect' star after he says he was rear-ended at a high rate of speed back in July 2016. In docs, obtained by TMZ, Gomez says the other driver's failure to stop caused him catastrophic injuries.

We're told Brittany was the one behind the wheel, but Jose is also suing her mom, Cindy. In docs, Gomez says he suffered shock and injury to his nervous system. We're told that includes a disc tear in his neck.

He's suing for unspecified damages. We've reached out to Brittany, so far no word back.

Justin Bieber's bodyguard is in a heap of trouble after allegedly driving drunk, smashing into a police car, badly injuring the cops and then fleeing the scene before he was corralled and arrested.

Michael Arana, the head of Bieber's security, was driving in Miami at around 3 AM Thursday when his SUV tore into the police car. One of the cops was so badly hurt he was airlifted to a nearby hospital. The other officer was also taken to the hospital.

Arana booked it, but another cop happened to be near the crash scene and apprehended him. He refused a blood test at the scene.

Cops found receipts in Arana's pocket showing he paid for various alcoholic beverages after midnight.

He faces a slew of charges ... 3 separate DUI charges, and 3 charges of leaving the scene of an accident.

One of the cops has been released from the hospital. The other is still there.

As for Bieber, he was in L.A. No word yet on whether he'll keep Arana on the payroll.

Sergey Kovalev says God saved him from a potentially deadly accident -- and now, he's vowing to show fans the "real Krusher" in his return fight this weekend.

"I said very big thanks to the God for save my life," Sergey told TMZ Sports. "I still healthy, and now he gave me opportunity again."

FYI, the boxing star recently revealed he got into a crazy car accident in Russia after his back-to-back losses to Andre Ward -- skidding into a dense forest off a 2-lane highway ... but miraculously avoiding direct impact with any trees.

Kovalev told us that close call led him to a monastery in Greece -- where he got clean in the body and mind, and got over his gut-wrenching defeats at the hands of Ward.

Eddie George says he'll always remember Terry Glenn as a "good kid with a big heart" ... telling TMZ Sports he was honored to call the late NFL receiver his teammate.

George and Glenn played together at Ohio State in the '90s and later in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. The Heisman trophy winner says he admired how well Glenn thrived despite losing his mother at 13 years old.

"He was a great guy to be around. Great person," George says ... "Just always full of laughter and joy despite his troubles."

"He overcame a lot of that stuff and didn't succumb to the pressures around him and really made something positive out of his life."

George goes on to share his favorite memories of playing with Glenn ... and says he'll do whatever he can to help his family.

Former NFL wide receiver Terry Glenn died in a car crash in Texas, officials confirm. He was 43.

We're told Glenn was in a single-car accident early Monday morning and was ejected from his vehicle. By the time officials responded to the crash site, it was clear Glenn had passed. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Glenn had a passenger in his vehicle -- we're told it was his fiancee -- but she survived the crash. She's currently being treated at the ICU of a local hospital.

We're told officials plan on doing a full autopsy, including toxicology, to see if they can get more information on what led to the crash.

Glenn was the 7th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft -- taken by the New England Patriots after an impressive run at Ohio State.

He went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL -- with the Patriots, Packers and Cowboys.

Terry also famously caught Tom Brady's very first TD pass in 2001.

Story developing ...