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 Based on the facts in the case, prosecutors lacked evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt that Jenner's conduct was
unreasonable, according to documents provided by Los Angeles
County District Attorney's Office.
"We believed from the start that a thorough and objective
investigation would clear Caitlyn of any criminal wrongdoing. We
are heartened the District Attorney has agreed that even a
misdemeanor charge would be inappropriate," Jenner's attorney,
Blair Berk, said in a written statement.
Jenner, 65, was driving a Cadillac Escalade along Pacific Coast
Highway and towing a trailer carrying a dune buggy when she
slammed into two other cars, according to authorities.
During the crash, a white Lexus being driven by 69-year-old Kim
Howe was shoved by Jenner's sport-utility vehicle across a
center divider and into oncoming traffic, where it was struck
head-on by a Hummer.
Howe was killed in the collision and Jessica Steindorff, who was
driving a black Toyota Prius also rear-ended by Jenner, was
injured. Jenner escaped serious injury in the crash.
According to a summary of the investigation released by the
district attorney's office, Jenner was driving slightly below
the speed limit and "minimally slower than the victim" and
braked 1.9 to 1.5 seconds before the collision.
The summary said that the only possible violation against Jenner
would be a "violation of the basic speed law," meaning too fast
for the conditions.
But, prosecutors said in the document, "crime also requires
ordinary negligence. Based on facts, cannot prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that suspect's conduct was unreasonable."
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Reasonable doubt is the standard required in California, and in most
U.S. courts, to prove a defendant guilty of a crime.Both Steindorff
and Howe's stepchildren family have sued Jenner, who was known as
Bruce Jenner at the time of the crash and rose to fame with a
record-breaking Olympic gold medal victory in the decathlon in the
1976 Summer Games in Montreal.
Civil cases typically require a lesser burden of proof than criminal
courts.
"The DA's decision not to pursue criminal charges places even more
importance on our clients' lawsuit. It is abundantly clear is that
Ms. Jenner's inattentive driving caused this rear-end collision that
resulted in Ms. Howe's death," Jeffrey Wolf, an attorney for Howe's
family, said in a written statement.
"Now, ultimately a jury trial in this civil case is the only way to
hold Ms. Jenner accountable for causing Kim Howe's death. We are
going to continue our efforts to ensure that justice is served,"
Wolf said.
Bruce Jenner was known to younger generations as the patriarch of
reality TV's Kardashian clan before announcing in a nationally
televised interview in April that he was transgender.
Caitlyn Jenner is now the star of her own reality TV show, "I Am
Cait," centered on her transition.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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