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Brandy may Be Charged with Misdemeanour Vehicular Manslaughter

The California Highway Patrol recommended Monday that Brandy Rayana Norwood, known professionally as Brandy, an actress and Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, be charged with misdemeanour vehicular manslaughter in a freeway crash, which resulted in the death of a fellow driver. "The office is currently reviewing the case and determining whether the evidence warrants the filing of a misdemeanour charge of vehicular manslaughter," A police spokesman said.

While driving her 2007 Land Rover, Brandy struck another vehicle from behind on a Los Angeles freeway, at 10:30 AM, On December 30, 2006, resulting in a chain reaction involving a total of four vehicles. The 2005 Toyota she hit, hit another car, and then crossed into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by the fourth vehicle. The driver of the Toyota, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, a married mother of one, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in critical condition and died the next day. Brandy was not injured and was not arrested, and no evidence of drugs or alcohol was recorded. All four vehicles have been impounded by the Police, and are awaiting the results of mechanical inspections.

Brandy is best known for her starring roles in the sitcom Moesha and Rodgers and Hammerstein`s Cinderella, and for her hit songs such as "Sittin` up in My Room" and "The Boy Is Mine". Brandy has gone on to sell more than 18 million albums and singles in the US alone and 35 million albums and singles worldwide. More recently before the fatal car accident, she has been cast as being one of three judges on the TV reality show America`s Got Talent.