More details have emerged following the tragic death of Sophia Hutchins, Caitlyn Jenner’s longtime friend and manager.
The 29-year-old entrepreneur and Pepperdine University alumna was riding a quad on Wednesday (July 2) when she reportedly struck the back of a moving car, causing her ATV to veer off the road and plummet into a ravine.
Hutchins was pronounced dead at the scene, with no other injuries reported in the crash.
Sergeant Eduardo Saucedo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shared early findings indicating Hutchins may have been speeding before the collision.
“It looks like she may have been speeding and rear-ended the other car, the other party, and then that caused her to veer to the right and go off the cliff,” he told Daily Mail. “It doesn't seem like she was following them. I think she just came up on them and then hit the car."
Saucedo disclosed that there were two females in the other vehicle, a gray 2016 Mazda 6.
"So it looked like she tried to maneuver to go around it, but she was going too fast and just ended up clipping the rear end of that Mazda, causing her to veer off and go off the cliff there,” he added.
TMZ reported that the crash occurred on a road near 75-year-old Jenner’s home, with police and family sources confirming Hutchins was near the property at the time of the accident.
Footage from the scene showed the wreckage of Hutchins’ ATV in the ravine alongside an upturned, rusted car that appeared to have been there for some time as authorities worked to recover the vehicles.
Jenner, who spent the July 4th holiday in mourning, has not publicly addressed Hutchins’ death, though she previously described her as her best friend.
Speaking to the Hidden Truth with Jim Breslo podcast, Hutchins once shared about their bond: “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.
“She challenges me in so many ways, has allowed me to grow in so many ways and I hope I challenge her to grow and I think because we share so many of the same passions and views, it’s just a great match, a great partnership.”
The pair first met in 2015 shortly after Jenner’s transition, with Hutchins later appearing on I Am Cait and eventually serving as Jenner’s manager.
Their close working relationship began after meeting through a mutual hairstylist and makeup artist, with Hutchins previously sharing on Juicy Scoop that she stepped in to help manage Jenner’s business affairs after observing financial disorganization in her life post-divorce from Kris Jenner.
“She didn’t have a manager. Kris wasn’t doing it anymore since they divorced and I felt I could do a really good job,” Hutchins recalled.
Hutchins transitioned during her junior year at Pepperdine, stepping down as Class of 2018 president to complete her transition.
In 2016, she credited Jenner as her inspiration, sharing: “[Jenner] made it so much more real for me, like normal and successful people do this and people are OK when they do it.”
After graduating in 2017, she launched her sunscreen company, Lumasol, and also served as CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation, which advocates for LGBTQ+ equality and provides grants to organizations supporting transgender people.
Hutchins was also known for her outspoken support of President Donald Trump, serving as a surrogate for Trump’s 2024 campaign, meeting him at Mar-a-Lago, and attending the Starlight Ball in Washington, DC, as part of Trump’s inauguration festivities in January.
In February 2024, Hutchins posted a picture with the 79-year-old, writing in the caption: “The energy, passion, and commitment for our movement to Save America has never been greater! We will never give up!”
She later shared from Trump’s election night watch party: “It’s been a wild ride. From the convention & inauguration in 2016 to 2020, to the most insane campaign in US history in 2024, I love this family as if they were my own.
“I will keep fighting for America in any way I am told - we’ve made it this far and I don’t plan on stopping, only speeding up. There is no team of people, led by the man himself, The 47th POTUS @realdonaldtrump I would want to do it with! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”