Woman driving 1st car in Malibu chain-reaction crash speaks out

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- The woman who was driving the first vehicle in the deadly chain reaction crash involving Bruce Jenner is speaking out about the crash.

The driver of the Toyota Prius that was rear-ended in the fatal pileup along Pacific Coast Highway says she was not the cause of the wreck.

Instead, Hollywood talent manager Jessica Marie Steindorff is placing the blame on Jenner, the former Olympian and reality TV star who was also involved in Saturday's crash.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Steindorff's Prius was stopped on PCH when she was rear-ended by a white Lexus.

Jenner's black SUV with a trailer in tow then rear-ended the white Lexus, sending it into oncoming traffic, where it collided with a black hummer. The driver of the Lexus, 69-year-old Kim Howe of Calabasas, died at the scene.

But Steindorff says that's not what happened. In a statement released Tuesday by her attorney Robert Simon, Steindorff said she had come to a stop because beach traffic had created a bottleneck.

"It's my understanding that Mr. Jenner struck the white Lexus, knocking it into oncoming traffic, and then rear-ending me at a high rate of speed. I was only struck once," Steindorff said in the statement.

Simon released more details about the incident on Thursday, emphasizing that Steindorff did not make any sudden stops and was not trying to make a U-turn. The attorney also said Steindorff was headed to a business meeting in Zuma Beach when the crash occurred, and that his client has given investigators authorization to download the "black box" from Steindorff's car.

Steindorff's attorney released photos of his client's 2010 Prius. He also confirmed that his client was driving with a suspended license, but he said it was suspended without her knowledge due to an unpaid traffic citation.

(Photos courtesy of Robert Simon)

Meanwhile, 911 calls were released Wednesday that were made by witnesses shortly after the crash.

Caller: A car accident, a major car accident. It looks like there are about three cars and it's right on PCH.

Operator: Are there any injuries?

Caller: I'm just passing by, we're just stopped, I'm going to say yes, it looks pretty bad.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said its investigation into the crash continues.