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STUDIO CITY – A former NBA basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Clippers and his wife were killed Wednesday morning after their Range Rover struck parking meters, a wall and rolled into a parking lot, authorities said.

Studio City residents Rasual Butler, 38, and his wife Leah LaBelle, 31, were pronounced dead at the scene in the 11200 block of Ventura Boulevard, Los Angeles Police Department officials said.

In a statement, the L.A. Clippers confirmed Butler and LaBelle, an R&B singer who was on the third season of reality television show “American Idol,” were killed in the crash.

“The L.A. Clippers are deeply saddened by the loss of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle,” the statement said. “Rasual will long be remembered not only for his accomplishments on the court, but for his vibrant personality, positive outlook and the compassion he had for everyone around him.”

Butler played for the Clippers from 2009-2011 and the small forward/shooting guard also played for a number of teams. This included being drafted and playing for the Miami Heat in 2002 and later the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors. He last played pre-season basketball for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016.

According to Detective William Bustos of the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division, “speed was a factor” in the crash, which he described as “horrific.”

Just before 2:30 a.m., police say the 2011 Land Rover was driving westbound on Ventura Boulevard “at a high-rate of speed” when it veered off the roadway and hit the curb. The car continued over the curb, hitting three parking meters, a concrete wall and several other objects before flipping two times and coming to a stop inside the parking lot, according to police.

Butler, who authorities say was driving, and LaBelle were the only people in the vehicle.

Video from the scene showed the vehicle had crashed into and damaged a Marshalls store.

Condolences and remembrances started spreading across social media Wednesday as teammates, friends and fans learned of the couple’s death.

The Miami Heat Tweeted out on Wednesday they were “deeply saddened” by the passing of Butler and his wife.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and many friends of Rasual and Leah. They will be missed. pic.twitter.com/djezmpHd5h — Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 31, 2018

Former NBA players Matt Barnes, Kobe Bryant were among the athletes who tweeted statements of respect on Wednesday for Butler and his wife after the crash. His comment read in part “Rip to the homie Rasual Butler & his wife!! Condolences to the (Butler) family & friends.”

Rip to the homie Rasual Butler & his wife!! Condolences to the butler family & friends. Damn Bro 🙏🏽😪 — Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) January 31, 2018

Rest In Peace my brother 🙏🏾#RasualButler — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 31, 2018

In a statement issued Wednesday, the NBA said it was “devastated” by the deaths of Butler and LaBelle.

“A pro’s pro, Rasual enjoyed a long, successful career and was widely respected by his peers and coaches,” the NBA statement said. “We grieve with their loved ones during this difficult time.”

On Wednesday, people who worked and lived in the area were saddened upon learning about the crash. But they also felt speeding was an issue on Ventura Boulevard, where the crash occurred.

“It’s a very dangerous curve,” said Dr. Robert Gonzalez, 47, who owns Prohealth Physical Medicine located near the Marshalls where the car ended up. “Just in the past two years, I’ve personally pulled somebody from their car who ran into that telephone pole,” Gonzalez said. “There used to be a tree where that police car is, it was taken out last year by car. So people come around way too fast around this curve. Multiple accidents during the day and in the course of the night.” Like our Facebook page for more conversation and news coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.

A similar fatal crash could “easily” happen again because people aren’t aware of the curve, Gonzalez said, adding it was “horrible” there were two deaths.

Gonzalez felt warning signs placed before the curve might help because drivers don’t realize how sharp it is but if drinking is involved there’s not much to be done.

Ryan Kim, 35, who owns a UPS near the crash scene said he has heard accidents or screeching tires in the area.

“We don’t hear it often but there are times where you hear a car connect” with another vehicle in a crash, Kim said. “I don’t know if the area is dangerous or people drive fast.” An entrance and exit to Studio City Place, where the Marshalls store and others are located on Ventura, is troublesome because drivers don’t always see it, Kim added.

Related Articles Former LA Clippers player and wife killed in car crash

Athletes, NBA teams react to former Clippers player Rasual Butler’s death Alice Kulakyan, 26, who also works at Prohealth Physical Medicine said multiple people have gotten into traffic accidents on the Ventura Boulevard corner.

“There are some crazy drivers out here,” Kulakyan said. “Honestly, I feel like they should fix this (nearby stop) light. I feel like it takes 30 minutes before it turns green. And then definitely some (warning) signs up that would be great.”

Ventura Boulevard, from Vineland to Tujunga avenues, was closed for the investigation. Eastbound Ventura re-opened shortly before 6 a.m., and westbound Ventura was slated to re-open a few minutes later, police said.

Staff writer Elliott Teaford contributed to this report.