Caitlyn Jenner has broken her silence weeks after her friend and manager, Sophia Hutchins, tragically died at the age of 29.
Hutchins was driving near Jenner’s $3.5 million Malibu home when she rear-ended a vehicle, causing her ATV to plunge 350 feet down a ravine on July 2.
According to Sergeant Eduardo Saucedo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Hutchins was traveling at high speed when she struck a 2016 Mazda 6, Daily Mail reported.
The driver of the Mazda, a local realtor, was unharmed, but Hutchins was pronounced dead at the scene.
The horrific crash has left Jenner heartbroken, and the 75-year-old Olympian spoke out about the immense loss during a recent interview with Fox News.
“Recently my good friend Sophia passed away in a tragic accident,” she said. “But for the last seven weeks, I’ve been dealing with death, and it’s so difficult.”
She then spoke about the recent shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, which killed two students and wounded 18 others.
“So when this happened, it really hit me hard,” Jenner continued. “Because here I am dealing with my grief, and I just can't even imagine parents who dropped their kid off at school and, like that father just said, ‘I'll never get a chance to talk to him again.’ That is just so horrible.
“And I've been dealing with grief, and these people have a long road ahead of them, and they're going to be dealing with grief,” she added
Hutchins, who was also a trans woman and had been one of Jenner’s closest allies for years, was not just a manager but a dear friend.
The two met in 2015 after the reality TV star's public transition, and their bond quickly grew both personally and professionally. Hutchins went on to manage Jenner’s career, helping her navigate the complexities of public life.
In a 2019 interview, the late woman spoke fondly of Jenner, stating: “We have so much in common; we see the world so similarly, and we both are such a good match for each other because we challenge each other.”
Hutchins had also credited Jenner's transition journey for inspiring her own path, adding: “She challenges me in so many ways, has allowed me to grow in so many ways, and I hope I challenge her to grow.”
Beyond their personal connection, the 29-year-old was also a driving force behind the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation, where she served as CEO and director.
She was also the founder of LUMASOL, a health technology company, and earned her degree in economics and finance from Pepperdine University in 2019.
Hutchins' cause of death has since been confirmed as “multiple blunt force injuries,” with the Los Angeles Medical Examiner ruling it an accident.
According to US Weekly, investigators are waiting for the coroner’s department to prepare a toxicology report before determining whether or not Hutchins was impaired behind the wheel.