Witnesses Conflict Over Lohan Crash

Oct, 5, 2005 — -- One witness recalls paparazzi "hounding" Lindsay Lohan on Tuesday, shortly before her Mercedes-Benz convertible collided with a van. Another says Lohan was "laughing" and "having a good time" and didn't seem as if she was being chased by photographers.

Lohan and an unidentified female companion, who had been shopping in West Hollywood, were taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Police say the driver of the van, who has not yet been identified, careened into a parked vehicle and suffered moderate injuries. Witnesses say he left the scene on a stretcher.

In May, Lohan was involved in another traffic accident, when she tried to evade a photographer who collided with her. The incident prompted California to pass a law to restrict paparazzi.

While several witnesses saw a swarm of photographers around the 19-year-old "Mean Girls" star as she shopped, another says it didn't seem as if she was being pursued, in the moments leading up to the crash.

"She was laughing, talking with a friend and kind of looking over the shoulder, like she was part of the scene, having a good time," said Richard Starr of New Orleans, who witnessed the incident with his wife.

"She had to be going 55, 60 miles an hour," he said.

Police have not yet determined details of the collision. "It's unknown what the speed was of the vehicles involved. That's part of the investigation," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Louis Castro said Tuesday.

"We do know we've ruled out any alcohol consumption or use as a factor in this accident."

Lohan's publicist did not return a call for comment.

Victoria Recano, a correspondent for the entertainment news show "The Insider," said she was filming near where the accident occurred. She saw Lohan's car pass, and then heard the collision.

"I didn't see any cars speeding behind her," Recano said. "I didn't see any sort of chase."