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Gwinnett police seeking information in singer's death

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police have confirmed a member of R&B female trio Blaque was hit and killed in an accident in Gwinnett County late Friday.

Natina Reed, a 32-year-old protégé of the late TLC singer Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, was struck while she was crossing a street.

Gwinnett County police spokesman Sgt. Rich Long told Atlanta Journal Constitution police received a call around 10:27 p.m. Friday that a woman had been struck by a red Honda Accord on Lawrenceville Highway at Hamilton Road, just north of Lilburn. Police said Reed was pronounced dead at Gwinnett Medical Center, just before 11 p.m.

Authorities are seeking information to help explain her accidental death.

Gwinnett County police would like to speak to “anyone who might have information about anything that could help us determine why she was there, anything to help us understand how this came together,” according to a statement Long provided to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Multiple messages were posted on Twitter expressing condolences, including those from music producer Russell Simmons and V103 personality Egypt Sherrod. Others offered sentiments, noting that Reed would have celebrated her 33rd birthday Sunday.

Reed’s fellow Blaque member Brandi Williams tweeted, “Last night the world was changed forever, life will never be the same….she was my sister.” Other members of the group include Shamari Fears and Erica Pullins.

Billboard named Blaque as the 4th Best New Artist in 1999. Lopes signed Blaque, whose hits included "808" and "Bring It All to Me", to her Left Eye Productions label. Lopes was killed in a 2002 in a car crash in La Ceiba, Honduras.

Reed is survived by a 10-year-old son, Tren Brown.

Gwinnett authorities clarified that Reed's accident was not a hit-and-run as reported by various outlets.

A Gwinnett County press release said preliminary information indicates the driver, who called 911 at the scene, was not at fault and there are no charges pending.  Officials said there are no additional witnesses beyond the driver and passenger. Police are withholding their names until the investigation is finished.

The AJC contributed to this report. Click here to read more about this story.