Date: 9/25/2008 9:10 PM
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY
AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Shia LaBeouf will not be charged with drunken driving for his involvement in a traffic accident that badly injured his hand, but could have his license suspended because sheriff’s officials said he refused a breathalyzer test.
There was “insufficient evidence” to charge LaBeouf with drunken driving, Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said Thursday. She said prosecutors are mulling charges against two other people involved in the July collision, but could not provide further details.
“Shia is most happy that he will not have to go to court,” said his attorney, Michael Norris.
LaBeouf was arrested July 27 after an early morning crash that injured his hand and sent him to a hospital for several days. Sheriff’s deputies said later that LaBeouf was not at fault in the accident, which occurred in West Hollywood.
The “Transformers” actor faces a traffic hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles that could see his driver’s license suspended for up to nine months, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said Thursday.
That hearing was scheduled for Friday. But Norris said he doubts the hearing will take place then, and doesn’t think the actor will lose his license.
“I anticipate that once we do have the opportunity to litigate the matter at the DMV that his license will not be suspended,” Norris said. The DMV hearing is not a court hearing and is not open to the public, Norris said.
Whitmore reiterated what police said the day after the crash: that LaBeouf showed signs of being impaired the morning of the crash, but refused a breathalyzer test.
“The physical signs led to the arrest,” Whitmore said, adding that the department respects the district attorney’s decision.
A spokeswoman for LaBeouf had no comment Thursday.
The crash occurred during a busy summer for LaBeouf, who costarred in the fourth installment of the “Indiana Jones” films and was filming a “Transformers” sequel.
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AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.