Halle Berry’s Hit-and-Run: Charges, Plea, and Settlement

Halle Berry’s hit-and-run case ended with a misdemeanor plea, not a felony conviction. After a February 2000 collision in West Hollywood that injured another driver, Berry left the scene and was later charged with leaving the scene of an accident. She pleaded no contest in May 2000 and was sentenced to three years of probation, a $13,500 fine, and 200 hours of community service.¹ A separate civil suit brought by the injured driver settled about a year later on undisclosed terms.²

What Happened the Night of the Crash

The collision occurred around 2:30 a.m. on February 23, 2000, at Sunset Boulevard and Doheny Drive.³ Berry was driving a rented Chevrolet Blazer that, according to authorities, ran a red light and broadsided a Pontiac Sunbird driven by 27-year-old Hetal Raythatha.⁴ A witness told investigators the Blazer came “flying down the hill” before hitting Raythatha’s car and rolling onto the sidewalk.⁵

Raythatha suffered a broken wrist and had to be helped from her car.³ Berry sustained a deep gash to her forehead that required 22 stitches. She left the scene and later turned up at a hospital, where she was treated and reported the accident to a police officer.⁶ The question of who caused the collision itself was never resolved in the criminal case, which focused only on her leaving.

Why the Felony Was Reduced to a Misdemeanor

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department first treated the incident as a felony hit-and-run.⁷ Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001, a driver in an injury accident must immediately stop; a violation can be punished by up to a year in county jail or a term in state prison, and by fines of $1,000 to $10,000.

Investigators looked into whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Both the sheriff’s department and the district attorney’s office concluded there was no evidence Berry had been impaired.³ Her attorney, Blair Berk, said “neither drugs nor alcohol played any part in this accident.”⁴

On April 1, 2000, prosecutors announced they would file a misdemeanor rather than a felony. They cited two reasons: Berry had apparently been “left dazed by the accident,” and she reported the collision to police once she reached the hospital.⁶ The misdemeanor carried a maximum penalty of one year in county jail and a $10,000 fine.⁴

The Plea and Sentence

On May 10, 2000, Berry appeared before Superior Court Judge Charles Rubin in Beverly Hills and pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of an accident.³ Judge Rubin imposed three years of probation, a $13,500 fine, and 200 hours of community service.¹ Her lawyers maintained throughout that she had lost her recollection of the crash because of her head injury.

Berry addressed the court briefly. “I have taken this matter very seriously from the very beginning,” she said. “I am pleased that this can be resolved.”¹ She still wore a bandage over her forehead wound at the hearing.³

The Civil Lawsuit and Settlement

Raythatha filed her own civil suit in March 2000, alleging gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint also claimed Berry had been driving under the influence, a claim Berry and prosecutors both denied.⁸ The suit sought unspecified damages and alleged permanent back injuries in addition to the broken wrist.⁵

Raythatha was represented by Gloria Allred; Berry retained Marty Singer for the civil case. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement by May 2001. Neither side disclosed the terms.²

1
Chicago Tribune. Halle Berry Given Fine, Probation for Hit-and-Run
2
Sun-Sentinel. Halle Berry Settles Up With Injured Woman
3
Los Angeles Times. Halle Berry Pleads No Contest in Hit-and-Run Case
4
CNN. Halle Berry Charged With Misdemeanor Hit-and-Run
5
New York Daily News. Halle Berry’s Costly Car Trouble
6
Los Angeles Times. Berry Charged With Misdemeanor in Hit-and-Run
7
Orlando Sentinel. Actress Berry Involved in Felony Hit-and-Run
8
Entertainment Weekly. Halle Berry Sued for Hit-and-Run Accident