Sophia Hutchins, best friend of Caitlyn Jenner, dies in ATV accident near Jenner’s home

Sophia Hutchins, the long-time manager and close friend of transgender Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Caitlyn Jenner, has reportedly died in an accident.

According to multiple reports, the 29-year-old was pronounced dead on the morning of Wednesday 2 July following a crash involving an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and another moving vehicle.

Hutchins was reportedly driving the ATV near Jenner’s home in Malibu, California, when it crashed into the bumper of a vehicle carrying two passengers.

The ATV left the road and fell 350 feet down a ravine, according to PEOPLE. Hutchins was pronounced dead at the scene, while passengers in the other vehicle were unharmed.

PinkNews has reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for comment.

Hutchins, who was also a trans woman, had been a close confidant of the controversial I Am Cait star since 2015 – the same year Jenner revealed her own transition – after being introduced by their mutual hairdresser.

Sophia Hutchins had appeared in I Am Cait numerous times, worked as Jenner’s manager, and was previously the former chief executive officer of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation, an organisation formed to “promote equality and combat discrimination” for trans people.

She was also a businesswoman, having founded sunscreen company LUMASOL.

Jenner and Hutchins reportedly lived together in Jenner’s Malibu mansion, with the pair having to deny that they were in a relationship. Hutchins was frequently seen by Jenner’s side, and even greeted her as she left the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! jungle in 2020.

During a conversation on the The Hidden Truth podcast in 2018, Hutchins spoke about her close bond with former Olympian Jenner.

“I wouldn’t describe it as romantic. I would describe it as: we’re partners, business partners,” she said.

“We have so much in common and see the world so similarly, and are both such a good match for each other because we challenge each other. We’re partners in everything we do – we’re inseparable, we’re business partners, we live together, we share a dog, we share family, we share a life together.”

In 2019, Caitlyn Jenner described Hutchins’ impact on her life as “undeniable”.

“Over the last few years, Sophia has been my best friend, family and confidant. She is one of the top minds in her field. Her value in my life is undeniable. The sky is the limit with her entrepreneurial spirit,” she told The New York Times through a representative.

Hutchins was closely politically aligned with Jenner, and had endorsed Donald Trump on numerous occasions in the lead up to the 2024 US presidential election.

Jenner is yet to respond to news of Hutchins’ death.