Rasual Butler and Leah LaBelle deaths: Tributes pour in for ex-NBA star and American Idol finalist wife after pair die in horrific car crash

Alexandra Richards1 February 2018

NBA star Rasual Butler and his wife who appeared on American Idol have died after their Range Rover flipped over in a horror crash in California.

Police rushed to the scene of the smash around 2am near Studio City in Los Angeles on Wednesday, TMZ reports.

Mr Butler, 38, was driving the vehicle when it allegedly hit into a parking meter before smashing into a wall and flipping over.

Officers believe that he was driving at twice the speed limit of 35 miles per hour, local media reported.

The car reportedly hit into a parking metre before flipping over
Fox News

Mr Butler played 13 seasons in the NBA from 2002 to 2016. He was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2002 and went on to play stints with the Hornets, Clippers. Bulls, Raptors, Pacers, Wizards and Spurs.

Rasual Butler in pictures

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His wife Leah LaBelle, 31, who also died in the crash was an R&B singer and came 12th in the third season of American idol in 2004.

Mr Butler was driving the vehicle when it allegedly hit into a parking meter 
Fox News
Leah LaBelle came 12th in the third season of American Idol
Getty Images for Adidas

Stars took to social media to pay tribute to the couple.

Chris Martin Palmer who plays for the LA Lakers wrote: “My heart is crushed upon hearing about the death of Rasual Butler. Had many great conversations with him. He died on a freeway two miles from my house at 2.30am while I was on Twitter talking about nothing”.​

Former NBA star Reggie Miller wrote: “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 because of his work ethic in Indiana. New guardian Angels”.

Jamal Crawford wrote: “Damn this one hurts! RIP Rasual Butler & his wife Leah. Sounds so cliche, but Rasual was really one of the good ones!!

Mr Butler is survived by his daughter Raven Butler from a previous relationship.

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