The family of Martin Okeke, the Uber driver killed in the fourth of July crash on PCH, filed suit in Santa Monica on December 3rd.
The family is seeking unspecified damages naming social media influencer Summer Wheaton, Nobu Malibu, HWoood Group and DBDJ LLC.
Malibu resident and attorney Perry Wander posted on social media in July, that despite the City denying Nobu the annual White Party event permit, the party would go on.
The City denied the permit as a result of the mayhem the event caused in 2023 when limos and party buses were abandoned in the center lane on PCH. The event in 2023 had over 700 people in attendance for a space that can legally hold 249.
Mayor Steve Uhring and council member Bruce Silverstein supported the City’s decision to revoke the permits for the event. Silverstein, a practicing attorney, even went a step further suggesting the City seek an emergency restraining order against Nobu should they fail to confirm they will not move forward with the Fourth of July event.
Malibu Daily News broke the story of social media influencer Summer Wheaton’s identity after sources at the LA County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Wheaton, 32, was at the wheel when her 2019 Mercedes GLC43, headed eastbound on Pacific Coast Highway, veered over the center median colliding with another vehicle head on at approximately 10:20 p.m.
The 44 year old driver of the vehicle Wheaton hit was in a 2020 Cadillac Escalade driving for Uber and had a passenger in the back seat. The driver died at the scene and the passenger, who was under 18 and whose guardians were notified, was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
The fatal accident occurred just 20 minutes after the Nobu party concluded.
The civil claim states that Wheaton was an employee of HWood Group, and the vehicle she was driving that killed Martin Okeke on July 4th, was also registered to HWood Group.
According to court records obtained by Malibu Daily News, Wheaton had prior run-ins with law enforcement in 2011 and 2012, the latter of which was alcohol related.
According to court records obtained by Malibu Daily News, Wheaton had prior run-ins with law enforcement in 2011 and 2012, the latter of which was alcohol related.
Multiple inquiries regarding the status the investigation went unanswered, further angering the community, already raw from the tragic accident that took the lives of four Pepperdine students in October, 2023.
Wander again took to social media after the civil suit made the news this week maintaining that his client, Nobu Malibu, should not be held responsible for the fatal crash.
“In my legal opinion, Nobu bears no responsibility for Ms. Wheaton’s accident on Pacific Coast Highway. Speed and alcohol consumption while driving under the influence while driving on a hazardous highway were solely responsible for this tragic accident.”
According to Wander’s post, sources revealed that Wheaton’s blood alcohol taken at the hospital “exceeded the legal limit for driving under the influence”.
He also goes on to speculate that at the very least, Wheaton could face involuntary manslaughter charges.
Malibu Daily News was the first to report that the case was referred to the District Attorney’s office for filing consideration in mid October. The DA’s office was under pro-criminal George Gascon’s leadership at the time.
The case is currently being reviewed under new District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s administration.
This is a developing story.
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