Lopes was vacationing in the Central American country of Honduras where she often visited, said TLC manager Bill Diggings, when she died. He told CNN that he received a phone from authorities in Honduras, telling him of the accident. There were seven other people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident and no one else was injured. Lopes was killed instantly.
Reuters is reporting that the crash happened outside the Caribbean port city of La Ceiba — in Northern Honduras — at about 5 p.m. on April 25, 2002 on the road to the nearby town of Jutiapa.
Transit police investigator Johnie Cole said investigators believed the crash was caused by speeding.
“The vehicle flipped three times and Lisa Lopes died in the hospital from fractures and internal injuries,” Cole said.
The eight passengers, all U.S. citizens, were injured, some seriously, in the crash.
“No words can possibly express the sorrow and sadness I feel for this most devastating loss,” said Antonio “L.A.” Reid, president and CEO of Arista Records. “Lisa was not only a gifted and talented musical inspiration, but more importantly, she was like a daughter to me. My thoughts and prayers are with Lisa’s family and friends. Her legacy will be remembered forever.”
TLC had been working on a new CD that had been scheduled for release this fall.
“We had all grown up together and were as close as a family. Today we have truly lost our sister,” said her band members, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas, in a statement.
Lopes, who often feuded publicly with the other members, had released a solo project last year, but it was ultimately shelved. She reportedly had signed as a solo artist with Tha Row Record. Lopes was also engaged to marry her longtime beau, former NFL receiver, Andre Rison.
“The ambassador [Frank Almaguer] made sure that the officials doing the medical work got it done as quickly as possible,” said Carlos Bakota of
the U.S. Embassy in Honduras.
A statement issued by Arista Records said Lopes’ family was grateful for the thousands of
condolence messages, but the family was also distressed by the appearance of morgue photos on various TLC fan websites.
On April 29, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that 3-weeks before she was killed, Lopes was in a van that struck and killed a 10-year-old Honduran boy in an accident that was not reported to legal authorities. For more go to http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/living/lopes/0428news.html.
BET TONIGHT WITH ED GORDON, BET’s provocative, in-depth interview show hosted by award-winning journalist Ed Gordon and featuring leading personalities, opinion leaders and newsmakers, aired a special tribute to “celebrate the life” of Lopes.
The program featured an exclusive interview with Lopes’ former fiancé and NFL star Andre Rison, as well as interviews with TLC members Tionne “T-Boz” and Rozonda “Chili” Thomas who spoke by phone. Also appearing were Lopes’ friends Natina Reed, from the group Blaque, whom Lopes discovered and former personal assistant, Rashan Ali Godfrey.
In 2001, Left Eye admitted to Britain’s Sunday Times Magazine that she’d adopted a daughter, Snow, who was in Lopes video “Block Party.” She also indicated that she adopted a 12-year-old boy named Jamal when she was just 20.
In the latest news on Lisa ‘Left Eye” Lopes, the late singer’s body was shipped by jet on April 29, 2002, from Honduras to Atlanta.
NOTE – Since this issue was printed prior to the date of the actual funeral some of the information below may have be changed.
Bishop Eddie Long, pastor of New Birth Church located in Lithonia, GA, will officiate the funeral. The service at New Birth, a 10,000-seat mega-church , is being called a “homegoing,” a term often used in black churches as a means of celebrating an individual’s life.Doors will open at 10 for the 11 a.m. service on May 2, 2002. The church will have one section for family and friends and another for fans.
Lopes’ casket will be closed during the ceremony, but the sanctuary will be alight with candles. “
Source: www.eurweb.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Printed in Volume 1 Issue 7
