Lil Twist Was Driving Justin Bieber's Ferrari When Paparazzi Was Killed
Rapper Lil Twist was reportedly driving Justin Bieber's white ferrari when a paparazzi photographer was tragically struck by an oncoming SUV. The Biebs was not in the car when the incident happened on New Year's Day but Lil Twist was reportedly driving the vehicle when he was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer.
The rapper and Bieber had been celebrating the New Year's at the Four Seasons hotel before the accident, according to TMZ. Lil Twist drove off with Bieber's car before being pulled over by a patrol officer at around 6 p.m. for speeding.
The photographer, believed to be known as Chris, got out of his car to take pictures of Bieber's Ferrari and was struck by an SUV after being told by a highway patrol man to get back to his own car. Los Angeles police said the highway patrol man noticed the photographer taking pictures and asked him to return to his own vehicle.
"He verbally ordered him to return to the vehicle, he had to order him twice and he seemed reluctant to go back, but eventually he did," Los Angeles police officer Sergeant Rudy Lopez told Mail Online. "When the photographer returned to the vehicle it did not appear that he was looking and he was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound."
The photographer, believed to be 29 years of age, died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA medical center shortly after.
Bieber released a statement expressing his condolences regarding the man's death.
"While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim," Bieber said. "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves."
