Probe of Vandross’ Fatal Crash Continues : D.A. Rejects Charging Singer

The district attorney’s office Monday rejected a police request to immediately charge singer Luther Vandross with manslaughter after a car accident that killed one of his friends.

Los Angeles Police Detective Don Belante said prosecutors decided that “there are other pieces of evidence we need to further investigate before they make the final decision on whether to file the case.”

The rhythm and blues singer, 34, was in fair condition at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with broken ribs and facial cuts, hospital spokeswoman Paula Correia said.

Four other people were injured Sunday when Vandross’ Mercedes-Benz veered across the center line of a Hollywood Hills thoroughfare, police said.

The singer was driving about 50 m.p.h. on Laurel Canyon Boulevard about a mile south of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City at 12:15 p.m. when the three-car accident occurred, Officer Arnold Breitenbach said. The speed limit is 35 m.p.h.

“He came zinging down the road and slid into an oncoming car and he was hit broadside,” Breitenbach said.

The dead man was identified as Lawrence Salvemini, 27, of West Hollywood, Sgt. Ron Barnes said.

Barnes said Vandross told Cedars-Sinai nurses: “He was my best friend.”

Salvemini’s brother, Jimmy, 15, also was a passenger in Vandross’ car. The teen-ager was in fair condition at Cedars-Sinai with cuts and possible internal injuries, Correia said.

Three other injured people, who were in the other cars involved in the accident, were in fair to good condition, Breitenbach said.

Vandross was nominated Thursday for a Grammy for best male rhythm-and-blues performance for “The Night I Fell in Love.”