Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, a founding member of TLC, was killed last night (4.25.02) in a car accident in Honduras. Lopes, 30, was vacationing in the Central American country where she found peace, TLC manager Bill Diggins said. Thursday evening authorities in Honduras reported the accident. Diggins said seven (other reports say six) other people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, but there were no other fatalaties. According to sources, she was not wearing a seat belt and was killed instantly.
In a statement, group members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas said, “We had all grown up together and were as close as a family. Today we have truly lost our sister,” At presstime, funeral arrangements were pending, but the service is scheduled take place in Atlanta, where she lived.
According to sources, Lopes recently left Tha Row to return to recording with TLC. Lopes also made headlines in 1994 when she
set fire to her boyfriend/football player Andre Rison’s mansion. Earlier this year, Lopes went solo dropping the ill-fated “Supernova.” But, she truly made her mark as a member of TLC with hits like “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” “Waterfalls,” “Baby, Baby, Baby” and “No Scrubs.” Last week, Rison announced plans to marry Lopes. At the time of her death, TLC was working on a new album for release this year.
Ironically, today is T-Boz’s birthday.