Bruce Jenner releases statement following his involvement in 'devastating' car crash

The incident on Saturday claimed the life of woman and left seven injured

Bruce Jenner has spoken about his part in a tragic car accident that left one woman dead and left seven others needing hospital treatment.

The former Olympian, who is the step-father of the Kardashian sisters, was caught in the accident that occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway on 7 February.

Jenner's publicist, Alan Nierob, said Jenner wasn't hurt, but he offered no additional details.

In an official statement, Jenner said: “My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident.

Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner was in one of the cars involved in the four-vehicle crash that left one woman dead and seven others injured (AP)

“It is a devastating tragedy and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them. I will continue to co-operate in every way possible.”

The incident is still under police investigation. Law enforcement sources have since confirmed there is “no indication” that there was any paparazzi involvement in the accident, which occurred on a “narrow and twisting” part of the Malibu highway.

Jenner was driving north on the Pacific Coast Highway when his black Cadillac Escalade crashed into the back of a Lexus Sedan that had just struck the back of a black Toyota Prius, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt Philip Brooks said. The Lexus then veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a black Hummer.

A damaged vehicle is pictured at the scene of the fatal crash (Reuters)

A woman in her 70s who was driving the Lexus was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said there was no indication that Jenner was being chased by paparazzi at the time of the crash, and that he did not appear to take evasive action in order to avoid the photographers who were following him.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies investigate the scene of the crash (AP)

Brooks said Jenner passed a field sobriety test and has been co-operating with investigators, voluntarily submitting a blood sample to be tested for intoxication.

“He did not appear intoxicated or under the influence of anything at the time,” Brooks added.

Jenner has been the subject of intense media speculation of late over his gender identity.

He became the subject of tabloid gossip after In Touch magazine published a photoshopped front cover baring the strapline ‘My Life as a Woman’.

Gossip site TMZ ran a similarly exploitative broadcast, during which male members of the office laughed as they came to the conclusion that while they can’t be sure whether or not Jenner was transitioning into a woman, he “wasn’t doing a very good job of being a man”.

The Kardashians responded to the cover by posting on of their own, featuring a photograph of the famous sisters surrounding Jenner on a sofa. “Family first”, the headline read.

“Well we support Bruce no matter what, so we were just at his house hanging out and we wanted to take a picture, that was not like a secret message like, ‘We support Bruce…Of course we support Bruce 100 per cent,” step-daughter Kim Kardashian West told E! Online.

“He’s our dad so we support him no matter what, and I think when the time is right, he’ll talk about whatever he wants to talk about. I just think it’s his story to talk about, not really mine.”