Ex-NBA Player Rasual Butler Killed In High Speed Crash

STUDIO CITY, CA —Former NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife, "American Idol" contestant Leah LaBelle were killed in a wild wreck in Studio City early Wednesday morning.

According to police, a Range Rover driven at high-speed slammed into several fixed objects including a parking meter and a Marshalls store on Ventura Boulevard. The couple died instantly, and the wreckage forced the closure of Ventura Boulevard.

TMZ first reported the identities of the two crash victims.

The crash was reported around 2:30 a.m. on Ventura Boulevard near Arch Drive, said Officer J. Mayorga of the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division. Police said the vehicle was Butler's new Range Rover and that it had to have been speeding, judging by the debris.

Butler's friends and former teammates mourned their loss Wednesday morning.

Pelicans forward Solomon Hill tweeted, "lost an OG today, a true pro, a teacher, and competitor. who was not only a great mentor but also a great father."

In a written release, the Clippers said Butler "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."

Butler was drafted in 2002 by the Miami Heat, and he played for several NBA teams including the Clippers, Clippers, Bulls, Raptors, Pacers, Spurs and Wizards. According to TMZ, his wife was an R&B singer signed by Epic Records. In the 2004 season of “American Idol” she came in 12th.

Ventura Boulevard, from Vineland to Tujunga avenues, was closed for the investigation. Eastbound Ventura re-opened shortly before 6 a.m., and westbound Ventura was to reopen a few minutes later.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: NBA player Rasual Butler, left, and Leah LaBelle arrive at the NBA Awards at Basketball City at Pier 36 on Monday, June 26, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)