The driver allegedly responsible for a deadly Fourth of July crash in Malibu, California, has been identified as Summer Wheaton, a popular social media influencer and wellness advocate.
The grisly collision unfolded on Thursday around 10:30 p.m., not long after 32-year-old Wheaton left a glitzy Independence Day event at Nobu Malibu, ABC 7 reported. Police said Wheaton was travelling East on the Pacific Coast Highway when her 2019 Mercedes-Benz sedan drifted across the center line and slammed head-on into a 2020 Cadillac Escalade.
The Cadillac driver, identified as 44-year-old Martin Okeke, was pronounced dead at the scene, Patch.com reported. He’d been working as a rideshare driver at the time.
A teen passenger in Okeke’s vehicle and Wheaton suffered serious injuries during the crash and were rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Their conditions were not clear, but both were expected to recover.
While an investigation into the matter is ongoing, police have said speed and/or alcohol could’ve played roles in the collision.
No charges have yet been filed.
In her Instagram bio, Wheaton describes herself as a “speaker” and “wellness advocate.” She boasts more than 102,000 followers, though her profile has been set to private.
Wheaton was reportedly among scores of celebrities who attended “Red, White and Bootsy,” an annual event that sees party-goers dress in all white in celebration of the Fourth of July. Other guests at the Nobu Malibu party included Wiz Khalifa, Mike Tyson and Tyga, the Malibu Times reported.
The mega-bash at the high-end sushi eatery reportedly occurred despite city officials refusing to grant a temporary use permit after the venue failed to comply with conditions related to traffic and safety.
