Obituaries
Natina Reed of Blaque Killed in Car Accident
Singer Natina Reed, who was well known as a member of the 90s group Blaque died early on Saturday morning after she was struck by a car while crossing a street in Atlanta.
*UPDATE AS OF 10/27/12 at 5pm: Gwinnett County police have confirmed that Natina Reed was killed in a car accident. However, they state she was NOT killed by a hit-and-run driver.
While some details remain sketchy and will emerge later, police say the driver actually called them and waited until they arrived.
At this time, they also do not expect to file any charges against the driver.
Singer Natina Reed, who was well known as a member of the 90s group Blaque, died early on Saturday morning after she was struck by a car while crossing a street in Atlanta.
The Gwinett Police Department says that the driver of the vehicle that hit Reed called 911 at 10:30 PM last night. Reed was pronounced dead at Gwinett Medical Center 29 minutes later, TMZ reports.
A press release said that Reed “was in the roadway on Lawrenceville Highway near Hamilton Road when struck.”
The driver in the hit-and-run incident “was determined to be not at fault and there are no charges pending.” Police say the investigation is still ongoing.
The news was revealed in tweets from those close to her, including group member Brandi Williams.
Reed is best known as one-third of the Atlanta-based girl act, who achieved success for their hits “808” and “Bring It All to Me,” which featured ‘NSYNC’s JC Chasez.
The rapper also transitioned into acting, starring in the 2000 hit comedy “Bring It On” along with her group members.
Reed would have turned 33 on Sunday. She was a protégé of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who also left behind a girl group, TLC, in 2002.
Natina Reed is survived by her 10-year-old son, Tren Brown, with rapper Kurupt.
Social-media sites lit up shortly after news broke of the singer/actress’ passing with a string of remembrance posts for Reed, including Blaque member Brandi Williams’ heartfelt message: “Last night the world was changed forever, life will never be the same….she was my sister.”
“Man. in eerie Left Eye fashion….rip to Blaque’s Natina Reed,” the Roots’ ?uestlove tweeted, along with the video for Blaque’s “808.”
“Bring It On” co-star Grabielle Union kept it simple, writing, “#RIP #Sad #BringItOn.” Others, like producer Isaac Hayes III, shared his grief through photos, posting a picture of the star on Instagram with a caption that read: “R.I.P. Natina Reed of the Group Blaque. Killed by a Hit & Run last night. So sad.”
News of the raptress’s passing also started plenty of Twitter trending topics, including Blaque and Natina Reed. Recently, Reed was rumored to be back in the studio with Blaque to work on an upcoming album.