Social media influencer Summer Wheaton has been identified as the driver who caused a fatal crash after leaving an unauthorized celebrity-filled party at Nobu in Malibu on the Fourth of July, authorities said.
The self-described “wellness advocate” attended the party on Thursday, which was hosted by Bootsy Bellows nightclub and attended by celebrities including Wiz Khalifa, Tyga and Mike Tyson. According to ABC7.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Wheaton, 32, is accused of fleeing the scene, crossing the median on Pacific Coast Highway and crashing his 2019 Mercedes-Benz head-on into a 2020 Cadillac, killing the other driver.
A passenger in the Cadillac that struck Wheaton was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries. The driver of the Cadillac was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities’ preliminary investigation suggests speed and alcohol may have been factors in the fatal crash. He told the Malibu Times.
A former licensed real estate agent, Wheaton has made a name for herself on social media as a “wellness advocate” who promotes healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
Wheaton, who boasted more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, made her account private and shut down her personal website after the fatal accident.
She is yet to make a public statement about the incident.
The fatal accident happened around 10:30 p.m. after Wheaton was seen leaving an unauthorized party at the upscale restaurant Nobu, according to ABC7.
Malibu officials said they denied Nobu’s Fourth of July party permit application because the owners failed to comply with traffic and safety requirements, but the party went ahead anyway.
“The city attorney has advised us that doing so would be a willful violation of city ordinances and would be subject to ordinance enforcement action,” Malibu Mayor Steve McCrary said during a public meeting Monday.
Malibu officials said the cause of the accident is still under investigation and that the city’s Code Enforcement Department is handling the case against Nobu.
The restaurant’s owners did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
Malibu Mayor Steve Uehling expressed condolences over the accident, which is just the latest in a series of fatal accidents along the Pacific Coast Highway.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life that occurred in last night’s accident,” Uehling said in a statement.
“This heartbreaking incident underscores the importance of the City’s ongoing efforts to improve safety on the Pacific Coast Highway,” he added.
