Driving While Famous
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With all their fame, money and power, you'd think Hollywood types would pony up for drivers. But it seems celebs love driving themselves... often with negative consequences. Some are merely menacing, while others meet tragic ends. Click through to see which stars have had car trouble... and buckle up! (REUTERS/AP/AP)
Tiger Woods was injured on November 27, 2009 when he lost control of his SUV outside his Florida mansion, and a local police chief said Woods' wife used a golf club to smash out the back window to help get him out. The world's No. 1 golfer was treated and released from a hospital in good condition, his spokesman said. The Florida Highway Patrol said Woods' vehicle hit a fire hydrant and a tree in his neighbor's yard after he pulled out of his driveway at 2:25 a.m. Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor told The Associated Press that officers found the 33-year-old PGA star lying in the street with his wife, Elin, hovering over him. And you may recall what happened <i>after </i>the accident... <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2009/11/30/rachel-uchitel-jaimee-grubbs-kalika-moquin?test=faces#slide=1">FOX411: The Women Linked to Tiger Woods</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The "Mad Men" blonde reportedly hit three parked cars in L.A. this past June. According to TMZ.com, Jones lost control of the car after being followed by paparazzi. The actress then left the scene and called 911, police told TMZ. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/06/11/mad-mens-january-jones-car-crash/"></a> <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/06/11/mad-mens-january-jones-car-crash/">FOX411.com: January Jones in Four-Car Crash</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (REUTERS)
Mel seems to have gone off the deep end in recent years. In the first of a series of offensive incidents, the actor launched into an expletive-laden "barrage of anti-Semitic remarks" after he was stopped on Pacific Coast Highway in 2006. He was arrested for DUI. On August 15 of this year, law enforcement sources told TMZ that Gibson lost control of his Maserati, crashing into a hillside. Gibson repeated several times, "I don't know how the car left the roadway." The actor/director was not hurt, but his car was towed away. DUI is not suspected in the accident. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/08/16/mel-gibson-wrecks-maserati/">FOX411: Mel Gibson Apologizes for DUI, 'Despicable' Statements</a> <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/08/16/mel-gibson-wrecks-maserati/">FOX411: Mel Gibson Wrecks His Maserati</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Where to begin with La Lohan... On May 26, 2007, Lindsay lost control of her car and ran up a curb. Beverly Hills police found what they preliminarily identified as a "usable" amount of cocaine in her car, and Lohan was arrested for DUI and fitted with a SCRAM bracelet. Two months later: A second DUI (police also found cocaine in her pocket). After pleading guilty to cocaine use and driving under the influence, Lohan served 84 minutes in jail in November of 2007. In 2008 a motorcyclist sideswiped her vehicle after she left a Midtown Manhattan nightclub. In May 2010, Lohan did not appear for a scheduled DUI progress report hearing.At her July 6 hearing, the judge determined that Lohan had violated the terms of her probation and sentenced her to 90 days in jail; in addition, the judge ordered the troubled starlet to check into an inpatient rehab program for three months after her jail time. Linds was released on August 2 after serving 14 days of her sentence. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The British singer has had a few auto incidents. He was arrested last month on suspicion of being unfit to drive after crashing his car into a shop near his home in north London in the early hours of the morning, British police said. The 47-year-old, who was banned for driving for two years in June 2007, was also involved in a 2009 collision in London. Statements by the other driver involved claim that Michael appeared "dazed" after the accident and had been "weaving all over the place" before crashing. The star claims this is false, and states: "Neither of us was charged, because we were both stone-cold sober," Michael said. "We both think the other is to blame, so this is just an insurance fight." <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
David Hasselhoff's ex-wife was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Los Angeles in 2009 The California Highway Patrol said that Pamela Bach was pulled over on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and showed blood alcohol levels of .14 and .13 on a breathalyzer test. California's legal limit is .08. Bach was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run in 2007, but the charges were dropped when she agreed to pay minor damages to the woman whose car she hit. But the Hoff has had some trouble on the road as well! The actor lost control of his Harley Davidson motorcycle in 2003, and he and his then-wife Pamela few off the bike. The actor hit a light pole and fractured his lower back and broke several ribs. His wife sustained a fractured left ankle and right wrist. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The former star of "The O.C." was involved in two accidents in a two-week period in 2007: A minor collision, and ripping her bumper off her car on a gate. Then in December of the same year, the troubled celeb was arrested for DUI and driving without a valid license. She was charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
After a string of car crashes, The Piano Man's exploits behind the wheel have become fodder for the likes of "Saturday Night Live" Beginning in 2002, Joel crashed his car three times in various areas near his Long Island, NY home. After his third wreck in 2004, in which he crashed into a house, witness Thomas Phillips Jr. "He said, 'I can't believe I got in another accident.' He was just going out to get a pizza." At left, car parts next to a tree struck by Joel's car in Sag Harbor, New York in 2003. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
She's not exactly a celebrity, but when well-known entertainment publicist Lizzie Grubman backed her Mercedes-Benz SUV into a Hamptons crowd in 2001, she certainly gained notoriety. Grubman's antics injured 16 people. To add insult to injury (literally), Grubman was alleged to have yelled into the crowd before striking her victims with her vehicle: "F**k you, white trash." She was charged in a 26-count indictment with felony crimes including multiple counts of assault, driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury. But all was not lost for Lizzie, the PR mogul got her own reality show on MTV, the short-lived "PoweR Girls." <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The Olympic swimmer was involved in a three-car accident in Baltimore in August of 2009. Phelps was not injured, according to TMZ.com, but a woman in the other car was taken to a local hospital, due to "head and arm pain." <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
In a very sad accident, Rebecca Gayheart struck a 9 year-old boy with her car in June of 2001, killing him. The actress was charged with misdemeanor manslaughter. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,35713,00.html">FOX411: Rebecca Gayheart Charged With Misdemeanor Manslaughter</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
A 2002 car accident resulted in the rapper's mouth being wired shut for six weeks. West crashed a rented vehicle in West Hollywood, Calif., and his song "Through the Wire" was recorded while his jaw was shut. [Insert joke about wishing his jaw were still wired shut here.] <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
"Wrong Way Richie" earned her nickname in 2006, after driving the wrong direction on a Calif. freeway. She admitted to using marijuana and Vicodin before the incident. She was arrested and charged with DUI and served 82 minutes of her four-day jail sentence. In 2003, the reality star was arrested in Malibu, Calif. and charged with possession of heroin while driving with a suspended license. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
In 1999, the former "90210" star totaled his Porsche after smashing into a utility pole. Three years later, Priestly crashed his Indy Pro Series car at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. He ran into a wall at nearly 180 miles per hour (see left) but has recovered fully. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The actress ran a red light in 2000, crashing her rented SUV into another car around 2 a.m. local time. The woman in the other car broke her wrist, and Halle required stitches on her head. Berry was charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP) (AP)
"The Hills" star, and sister of Spencer, Stephanie Pratt made headlines in October of 2009 when she was pulled over and arrested on DUI charges after a birthday in Los Angeles. But the reality star says that despite her breakdown behind bars, the arrest has inspired her to get her life together. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (REUTERS)
Another sad one: During a 1987 vacation in Ireland, Broderick steered his rented BMW into the opposite lane and collided head-on with the oncoming car, killing two women. Broderick and then-girlfriend Jennifer Grey were slightly injured. The actor was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving (which carries a prison sentence), but he was eventually charged with careless driving and fined about $150.00. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The blonde bombshell passed away in a tragic 1967 car accident. Three of Mansfield's children, including actress Mariska Hargitay, were in the car when they crashed into the rear of a tractor-trailer in Mississippi, killing Jayne, her attorney, and her driver. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The actor was in some hot water after an accident in the summer of 2008. His '97 Nissan Maxima passenger (who denied being his mistress) sued him for negligence after the car flipped off a Mississippi highway and rolled several times. Freeman broke his shoulder, arm and elbow in the crash. Doctors operated for four hours to repair nerve damage in his shoulder and arm. Alcohol was reportedly not a cause of the accident. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
"Leave it to Lamas" star Shayne ran into some trouble behind the wheel last year when she was busted at a police checkpoint for a DUI. The former "Bachelor" winner says she willingly drove through the checkpoint after having one drink early Saturday morning. Despite her "complete confidence" that she would pass with flying colors, the breathalyzer said otherwise, as she blew over the legal limit. Oops! <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (<a href="http://www.x17online.com/gallery/index.php?tab=by_celebrity&celebrity=Shayne+Lamas">Click here for more Shayne photos from X17 Online.</a>)
The legendary actor got into a crash in L.A. in 1999 that injured one of his passengers. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Hollywood royalty Gwyneth rear-ended a car in West Hollywood in 1997. She was sued by the other car's occupants, who claimed "permanent and serious injuries." In January of this year, the actress was involved in a minor accident in London. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The R&B star died tragically in 2002, when she crashed in Honduras. The star lost control while speeding and swerved off the road, flipping her Mitsubishi Montero and hitting two trees. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
At just 17, the son of wrestler Hulk Hogan, Nick Bollea, was sentenced to jail for an accident that left his best friend (and front seat passenger) John Graziano critically injured after they crashed into a tree in 2007. After two years in a hospital Graziano, who suffered brain injuries, was released to his family, who says his care will cost millions. Nick Bollea pleaded no contest to reckless driving and spent more than five months in jail. Hulk Hogan settled a lawsuit with the Graziano family this year. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Brit Brit has seen her fair share of accidents, from running red lights, to running over paparazzi feet to tapping other cars with her Mercedes to side swipes on California freeways to rear ending cars... She also likes to let her babies drive (In February 2006, pictures surfaced of Spears at the wheel with her son Sean on her lap rather than in a car seat). Oh Britney, please just hire a driver! <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Way back in 1985, Little Richard fell asleep at the wheel, hitting a telephone pole in Hollywood, Calif. Though seriously injured, the singer has since recovered. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
With a mug shot that will forever live in infamy, Locklear was busted for driving under the influence in September of 2008 after a witness spotted her driving erratically. But she didn't learn her lesson! The former "Melrose Place" star was charged in a hit-and-run accident near her home in Los Angeles on April 17, 2010 after a security camera showed Locklear's car veer off the curb and crash into a "no parking" sign around 4 a.m., before she drove off without notifying authorities. The actress was cited with a misdemeanor. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Actor Shia LaBeouf suffered a crushed hand in 2008 after he was involved in a high-speed collision with another driver. While police noted that LeBeouf was not at fault in the accident, cops at the scene reported that the young actor -who once said he swore off drinking - "exhibited obvious signs of intoxication." <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Oh Paris, queen of scandal, what would your life be without your Bentley? The star nearly learned that the hard way in 2006 when her then-boyfriend crashed the $160,000 car into a truck with her in the passenger seat. The whole exchange was captured on video for the world to see and will forever be known for Paris screaming at Niarchos to stop driving after he said "Baby I'm [expletive] scaring myself" as he sped off. The heiress has been involved in various other fender benders, including an accident with paparazzo in 2007. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The 24 year-old actor's life came to a tragic end in 1955 when his Porsche 550 Spyder collided with a 1950 Ford Tutor. The Porsche and the accident have become the stuff of Hollywood legend, with some conspiracy theorists claiming everything from a jinxed car to Dean actually surviving the crash and going on to make additional projects. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The R&B singer was involved in a car accident in 2007 that ended the life of an L.A. woman. Norwood was driving her Range Rover at 65 mph on the L.A. freeway when she struck a 2005 Toyota, killing 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj. She was not charged with any crime. Eerily enough, two of Brandy's former co-stars on the hit show "Moesha" were killed in two separate incidents involving cars. Two years later, Brandy recounted the experience, telling "Access Hollywood," "It was a situation that changed my life forever. I will never be the same." <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Sheen's silver Mercedes-Benz was found at the bottom of a ravine off Los Angeles' Mulholland Drive in the early hours of June 15, 2010. Back in February, another one of his Mercedes vehicles was found at the bottom of a 100-foot cliff in Sherman Oaks, California. Coincidence? Maybe one of Charlie's conspiracy theories can explain it. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Though Princess Diana wasn't at the wheel, her 1997 demise in a Paris car crash is one of the most mourned celebrity deaths of all time. Some think that the fatal crash was caused by the paparazzi, while others said her driver was drunk. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The troubled R&B star was involved in a one-car accident in Hollywood, Florida in 1996. Police charged him with driving while under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. In 2002, Atlanta cops charged Brown with possession of marijuana, speeding, and driving without a license or proof of insurance. And, to top that off, he still had an outstanding warrant for his '96 DUI. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
Bynes was reportedly involved in a multiple car collision in early 2007. In August of 2008, the former child star smashed her BMW into another car after making what police say was an “unsafe turn.” Luckily, there were no serious injuries reported. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP) (AP2007)
The legendary track star died tragically at the age of 24. In 1975, Prefontaine swerved his convertible to avoid another vehicle and flipped his car. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The actress was one of the hottest stars of the 1950s, and went on to marry Prince Rainier III, becoming the Princess of Monaco. Sadly, Kelly was driving home to Monaco in 1982 when she suffered a stroke and lost control of her car. She was 52 years old. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)
The singer broke an arm and leg in 1990, when he reportedly ran a stop sign in Hollywood on his motorcycle and was hit by a car. A steel rod was placed in his leg. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/@fox411"><b>Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.</b></a> (AP)