James Blunt's Smash Hit

Mon., Feb. 26, 2007 8:38 AM PST by Gina Serpe

James Blunt didn't quite run over the competition at the Grammy Awards. Unfortunately, in the lead up to the Oscars, he did.

The sensitive Brit singer was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles early Saturday while leaving a pre-Academy Award bash in which his car ran over the foot of a male bystander.

Los Angeles Police Officer Martha Garcia confirmed to E! Online that Blunt was in the car at the time of the hit, though she did not disclose his role in the incident.

"A police report was taken after 1:30 a.m. Saturday," Garcia said. "We can't say whether [Blunt] was driving or not."

Whatever the 32-year-old ex-soldier's role, neither he nor his girlfriend passenger, model Petra Nemcova, reportedly suffered any injuries.

The same can't necessarily be said for the man whose foot was on the receiving end of the vehicle. While the man has not been formally identified, reports initially pegged him as an autograph-hunter. However, Blunt's rep told People that the man was actually an aggressive member of the paparazzi.

"It wasn't a fan," he said. "It was a ton of paparazzi that were all swarming his car as he was driving two mph trying to navigate his way through them. That's first and foremost. They were invading his space. He was just trying to quietly leave the party."

Garcia said that the LAPD is investigating a reported misdemeanor hit and run in which witnesses told police that Blunt was the driver. Garcia said they are still determining whether or not a crime was committed.

The "Beautiful" singer and his leading lady were attending the pre-Oscar party of Creative Artist Agency agent Bryan Lourd when their car—according to reports, a decidedly un-pimped out Toyota Camry—struck the foot of the man while exiting the invitation-only party.

If Blunt's post-hit behavior is any indication, the songwriter didn't allow the accident to dampen the rest of his award show weekend festivities. On Saturday night, Blunt showed up at Soho House L.A., a temporary version of the posh London club set up the week before the Oscars. On Sunday night, Blunt was out again in full force, appearing and performing at Elton John's 15th Annual Oscar party to benefit his namesake AIDS Foundation.

John and Blunt performed several duets together at the do, mixing it up with hits from both artists, including "Tiny Dancer."

Blunt's sophomore follow-up to Back to Bedlam is due out in September.