Ian Cuttler, a full-time photographer and Grammy Award winner, was killed Feb. 23 after a vehicle he was a passenger in and driven by Salma Hayek’s brother reportedly crashed into another vehicle on Sunset Boulevard near Bel Air.
The Los Angeles Fire Dept. (LAFD) confirmed a vehicle driven by Sami Hayek was involved in a two-car collision at 10250 Sunset Boulevard at Mapleton Drive in the Bel-Air area. LAFD also confirmed the collision took place Feb. 23 at 4:50 p.m. with three patients, including two adult males in serious condition.
Cuttler was declared dead on arrival, the LAFD reported.
The two injured in the vehicle collision were transported to Ronald Reagan-UCLA Medical Center for treatment.
According to the Los Angeles Police Dept. (LAPD), Cuttler, 43, sustained “major blunt force trauma to his body.”
The LAPD reported Hayek, who is a Los Angeles resident, was driving eastbound on Sunset Boulevard in a 2006 Fort Mustang GT when he crossed over into the westbound lanes of the same street.
Moments later, Hayek allegedly collided with a 2011 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 20-year-old Los Angeles resident.
Hayek, who was reportedly not arrested, suffered several broken bones and a head laceration, the LAPD reported, while the driver of the Toyota Tacoma suffered a broken foot.
An autopsy was reportedly set to be complete Feb. 25; however, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has not yet released any information.
Once the autopsy and an LAPD investigation of the vehicle collision is completed, a case could be presented to the district attorney’s office.
Some news reports indicated the deceased victim was named Ian Cuttler Sala. However, his website states his name is Ian Cuttler.
Cuttler won a Grammy Award for Best Art Direction in 2005 for his work on “Johnny Cash: The Legend” box set. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Art Direction of “Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings.”
His resume also included a nine-year stint at Sony Music NY and, up to his death, work as a full-time photographer. According to his website, Cuttler created visual campaigns for Beyonce, Ricky Martin, Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Julio Iglesias, Marc Anthony, and Destiny’s Child.
Some of his clients in photography included 1961 Denim, 7UP, Axe, Christie’s NY, Converse, Gillette, Lincoln Center, Pfizer, P&G, and Sony BMG. Cuttler also stated on his website he provided editorial content for GQ Germany, GQ Mexico, H Magazine, Max Magazine, Maxim, and Stern, among others.
Cuttler had resided in New York since 1996.
The case will be presented to the district attorney’s office upon completion of the investigation.
