Dead NBA star Rasual Butler’s touching final Instagram post described how much he loved his daughter days before he and his American Idol wife were killed in a high-speed crash
Butler, 38, and Leah LaBelle, 31, died when their Range Rover flipped and crashed near Studio City in Los Angeles yesterday
EX-NBA player Rasual Butler posted a touching social media message praising his daughter just days before he and his American Idol star wife were killed in a horror crash.
Butler, 38, and his 31-year-old wife Leah LaBelle died when their Range Rover flipped and crashed near Studio City in Los Angeles yesterday at about 2am.
Cops said Butler was speeding when his vehicle collided with a parking ticket machine before slamming into a wall.
No other car was involved.
It has now emerged just three days before his shock death, Butler posted a sweet Instagram post praising his only child, Raven.
In it he hailed his "beautiful" daughter and spoke of his pride at having raised her.
He wrote: “My daughter is so (water wave emoji) yyyy! Her Aura, spirit, style, creativity, intellect, passion and understanding for her age is a beautiful thing to watch as very proud father!
“She understands things about being solid many adults struggle with!
“I love you with every single element of human anatomy that allows me to be here in the physical as your father, friend, partner and inspiration for everything driving me to be the ultimate best version of me.”
His wife Leah, who once appeared on American Idol, was an R&B singer.
Butler played for eight NBA teams during his 13-year career, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.
Los Angeles police said in a statement that Butler was speeding before his vehicle "hit three parking meters and a concrete wall and then flipped over twice".
The vehicle came to rest inside a shop car park.
Butler, 38, and Leah LaBelle Vladowski, 31, were pronounced dead at the scene, said Ed Winter, assistant chief investigator with the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Butler was drafted in 2002 by the Miami Heat out of LaSalle University in his hometown of Philadelphia.
He had career averages of 7.5 points and 2.4 rebounds.
NBA team President Pat Riley said in a statement: "This is beyond a sad day for the Miami Heat Family.
"Rasual was one of the greatest people we have ever had play for us; a great player, teammate and better person."
Indiana Pacers President Kevin Pritchard added: "In his one season with us, Rasual was the consummate team player and a great role model for our younger players on how a professional should prepare and act, while being a positive influence on everyone who associated with him."
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