Latest news with #HwoodGroupLLC
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Instagram influencer charged in fatal July 4th wreck on PCH ordered to wear an ankle monitor
Lifestyle influencer Summer Wheaton has built a brand on Instagram around beauty product recommendations and faith-based positive affirmations. On Monday, a superior court official ordered her to don an unattractive new accessory: an alcohol ankle monitor bracelet. The order was made in connection to the deadly car crash Wheaton allegedly caused when she collided with another driver on Pacific Coast Highway on July 4. Wheaton, 33, who appeared in court wearing gray slacks and a gray top, did not speak during her court appearance but her attorney, Elon Berk, entered a not guilty plea to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and causing great bodily harm while intoxicated. Court Commissioner Sarah Ellenberg ordered Wheaton to register for a SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) ankle bracelet device within the next two days. Wheaton also was ordered to appear in court at the end of April for a preliminary hearing. She remains out on bail after posting a $230,000 bond. The charges stem from a Fourth of July party at Nobu Malibu last year. Wheaton left the party in Malibu and was driving 81 mph when she collided head-on with a vehicle driven by ride-share driver Martin Okeke. The party's guest list included Wiz Khalifa, Tom Sandoval, Mike Tyson, Lonzo Ball and other celebrities. Wheaton was among the throngs of people at the "Red, White and Bootsy" party, according to prosecutors and a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Okeke's family. Read more: Malibu homeowner sues Tripadvisor, renter for fire that destroyed house, killed student Just before arriving at the party, Wheaton posted a photo of herself and a guest in her 2019 Mercedes-Benz. While she arrived with a guest, Wheaton left alone with a blood alcohol count of 0.10, according to court records. Okeke was traveling with a teenage passenger in his vehicle when Wheaton crossed the center divider and crashed into his vehicle. Okeke died in the crash; his passenger survived. A civil suit filed by Okeke's family names as defendants Wheaton, Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC, the groups who hosted the event. Okeke's family claim that Wheaton was hired to attend the party on PCH and was 'expected to consume intoxicants.' An attorney for Nobu denied in December that Wheaton was hired or contracted by the restaurant. Less than a week before the party, Malibu city officials rescinded the permit for the event, citing concerns about traffic and safety. Despite the rescinded permit, the Fourth of July party went on. Attorneys for Nobu previously told The Times that the city's decision to rescind the permit was unfounded and that the restaurant abided by the city's initial conditions for the permit, including an agreement that guests would be shuttled to the event and that there would be no on-site parking. Read more: Speeding and drugs were factors in Cybertruck crash that killed 3 college students, CHP says Wheaton, however, drove herself to the party, according to the lawsuit. While the crash took place in the summer of 2024, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department did not present the case to the district attorney's office until October. Prosecutors requested additional information from sheriff's investigators and the case was filed Feb. 10. Wheaton curtailed her postings to social media following the crash, but seven days after she was charged she posted a video where she discussed her faith without directly mentioning the fatal crash. "You may not believe this but your miracle is right on the other side of your lowest moment," she said in a video posted to Instagram on Feb. 17. "I know that sounds crazy to say but I've experienced it." Los Angeles Times reporter Clara Harter contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Instagram influencer charged in fatal July 4th wreck on PCH ordered to wear an ankle monitor
Lifestyle influencer Summer Wheaton has built a brand on Instagram around beauty product recommendations and faith-based positive affirmations. On Monday, a superior court official ordered her to don an unattractive new accessory: an alcohol ankle monitor bracelet. The order was made in connection to the deadly car crash Wheaton allegedly caused when she collided with another driver on Pacific Coast Highway on July 4. Wheaton, 33, who appeared in court wearing gray slacks and a gray top, did not speak during her court appearance but her attorney, Elon Berk, entered a not guilty plea to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and causing great bodily harm while intoxicated. Court Commissioner Sarah Ellenberg ordered Wheaton to register for a SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) ankle bracelet device within the next two days. Wheaton also was ordered to appear in court at the end of April for a preliminary hearing. She remains out on bail after posting a $230,000 bond. The charges stem from a Fourth of July party at Nobu Malibu last year. Wheaton left the party in Malibu and was driving 81 mph when she collided head-on with a vehicle driven by ride-share driver Martin Okeke. The party's guest list included Wiz Khalifa, Tom Sandoval, Mike Tyson, Lonzo Ball and other celebrities. Wheaton was among the throngs of people at the 'Red, White and Bootsy' party, according to prosecutors and a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Okeke's family. Just before arriving at the party, Wheaton posted a photo of herself and a guest in her 2019 Mercedes-Benz. While she arrived with a guest, Wheaton left alone with a blood alcohol count of 0.10, according to court records. Okeke was traveling with a teenage passenger in his vehicle when Wheaton crossed the center divider and crashed into his vehicle. Okeke died in the crash; his passenger survived. A civil suit filed by Okeke's family names as defendants Wheaton, Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC, the groups who hosted the event. Okeke's family claim that Wheaton was hired to attend the party on PCH and was 'expected to consume intoxicants.' An attorney for Nobu denied in December that Wheaton was hired or contracted by the restaurant. Less than a week before the party, Malibu city officials rescinded the permit for the event, citing concerns about traffic and safety. Despite the rescinded permit, the Fourth of July party went on. Attorneys for Nobu previously told The Times that the city's decision to rescind the permit was unfounded and that the restaurant abided by the city's initial conditions for the permit, including an agreement that guests would be shuttled to the event and that there would be no on-site parking. Wheaton, however, drove herself to the party, according to the lawsuit. While the crash took place in the summer of 2024, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department did not present the case to the district attorney's office until October. Prosecutors requested additional information from sheriff's investigators and the case was filed Feb. 10. Wheaton curtailed her postings to social media following the crash, but seven days after she was charged she posted a video where she discussed her faith without directly mentioning the fatal crash. 'You may not believe this but your miracle is right on the other side of your lowest moment,' she said in a video posted to Instagram on Feb. 17. 'I know that sounds crazy to say but I've experienced it.' Los Angeles Times reporter Clara Harter contributed to this report.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Los Angeles-based influencer arrested in connection with fatal car crash
A Los Angeles-based influencer turned herself in to authorities Monday after a warrant for her arrest was issued in connection with a car accident that killed a 44-year-old man last year. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department booked Summer Wheaton, 33, on suspicion of manslaughter and drunk driving, according to sheriff's records. She was released at around 3:30 p.m. local time Monday after having posted a bond of $230,000. Wheaton was named as a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in December by the family of Martin Okeke, who died on July 4 after a vehicle struck him on the Pacific Coast Highway. Okeke's family alleges that Wheaton was hired to attend a party at the restaurant Nobu Malibu, on the Pacific Coast Highway, and was 'expected to consume intoxicants.' The suit, which also names Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC as defendants, alleges that the restaurant had not received the proper city permits to hold the party and 'were not complying with the City's plans to control for the danger of drunk driving.' Wheaton 'was booked for the charges of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Bodily Injury, and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a BAC of 0.08% or above Causing Bodily Injury,' officials said in a statement posted to Facebook. Direct messages sent to Wheaton on Instagram and through her website were not immediately returned. It is unclear whether she has an attorney. Attorneys for Okeke's family did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Representatives for Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC also did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The event at Nobu was supposed to be attended only by people who were being given rides by secondary parties, such as ride share services or limousines, according to the Okeke family's suit. However, Wheaton drove herself from the party in violation of its rules, the suit says. Wheaton 'failed to keep a proper lookout, drove at an excessive speed, and made an unsafe lane change, causing a head-on collision,' according to the suit. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times in December, an attorney for Nobu denied that the restaurant hired or contracted Wheaton and said that it abided by the city's initial conditions for the permit. Okeke's family requested a full jury trial and is seeking damages 'without limitation.' Wheaton, who makes content about travel, fashion and faith for her 101,000 followers on Instagram, has not publicly addressed the crash. But in a video posted to her Instagram page in December, she reflected on how 'the last few months have been hard.' 'You know that feeling when life seems like it's all falling apart, but somehow it's a start of something really beautiful?' she said. 'Well, that was me.' She went on to promote her $34.99 'faith-based planner.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
26-02-2025
- NBC News
Los Angeles-based influencer arrested in connection with fatal car crash
A Los Angeles-based influencer turned herself in to authorities on Monday after a warrant for her arrest was issued in connection to a car accident that killed a 44-year-old man last year. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department booked Summer Wheaton, 33, on suspicion of manslaughter and drunk driving, according to LASD records. She was released at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Monday after posting a bond of $230,000. Wheaton was named as a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in December by the family of Martin Okeke, who died on July 4, 2024, after he was struck by a vehicle on the Pacific Coast Highway. Okeke's family alleges that Wheaton was hired to attend a party at the restaurant Nobu Malibu, located on the PCH, and was 'expected to consume intoxicants.' The suit, which also named Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC as defendants, alleges that the restaurant had not received the proper city permits to hold the party and 'were not complying with the City's plans to control for the danger of drunk driving.' Wheaton faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing great bodily injury and driving under the influence with .08% alcohol, causing great bodily injury, LASD said. Direct messages sent to Wheaton on Instagram and through her website were not immediately returned. It is unclear whether Wheaton has an attorney. Attorneys for Okeke's family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Representatives for Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC. also did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. The event at Nobu was supposed to be attended only by people who were being given rides by secondary parties, such as ride shares or limousines, according to the Okeke family's suit. However, Wheaton drove herself from the party in violation of the event's rules, the suit states. Wheaton 'failed to keep a proper lookout, drove at an excessive speed, and made an unsafe lane change, causing a head-on collision,' according to the suit. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times in December, an attorney for Nobu denied that Wheaton was hired or contracted by the restaurant and said that the restaurant abided by the city's initial conditions for the permit. Okeke's family requested a full jury trial and is seeking damages 'without limitation.' Wheaton, who makes content about travel, fashion and faith for her 101,000 followers on Instagram, has not publicly addressed the crash. But in a video posted to her Instagram page in December, she reflected on how 'the last few months have been hard.' 'You know that feeling when life seems like it's all falling apart, but somehow it's a start of something really beautiful?' she said. 'Well, that was me.'
The Independent
25-02-2025
- The Independent
Influencer arrested after leaving Nobu party drunk and causing deadly crash, police say
Social media influencer Summer Wheaton has been arrested and booked on suspicion of manslaughter and drunk driving for her alleged involvement in a fatal crash after she left Nobu Malibu last July 4. The crash led to the death of ride-share driver Martin Okeke. The Wheaton posted a $250,000 bond and was released later the same day. The Independent has approached LA County Sheriff's Department and Summer Wheaton for further comment. Authorities say that Wheaton, who has 101k Instagram followers, was driving a 2019 Mercedes-Benz when she crossed the center median on Pacific Coast Highway and crashed into a 2020 Cadillac driven by Okeke. Both Wheaton and the passenger in the Cadillac were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Okeke was pronounced dead at the scene. If convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter, Wheaton could face up to 10 years in prison. She has also been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury and driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or above causing bodily injury, said Carr. These charges can be prosecuted as misdemeanors or felonies, with each punishable by up to three years in prison. Okeke's family brought a wrongful death lawsuit against Wheaton in December, in which they alleged that the influencer was 'severely intoxicated and impaired' at the time of the incident. Their lawsuit also named Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC and DBDJ LLC as defendants, further alleging that Wheaton had been hired to attend the party and was 'expected to consume intoxicants' as part of her contract. An attorney for Nobu denied Wheaton had been hired by the restaurant. Hwood Group regularly hosts a Fourth of July party at Nobu Malibu. Malibu officials told ABC7 last year that they had rejected Nobu's request for a permit for the extravaganza since the owners didn't comply with traffic and safety stipulations. Nevertheless, the party still went on. In the wake of the tragedy last July, Malibu Mayor Steve Uhring issued a statement saying: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life resulting from last night's accident. This heartbreaking incident underscores the importance of the City's ongoing efforts to address safety on Pacific Coast Highway.'
