Social Media Influencer Leaves Nobu Party Causing Fatal Fourth of July Crash in Malibu

This article was updated at July 6th, 2024, 2:21 PM.

The Fourth of July holiday ended with a fatal head-on collision on PCH in Malibu, killing one person.

That brings the total count to 61 people killed in a 14-year period on one of the nations deadliest stretch of highways.

Sources at the LA County Sheriff’s Department confirm Summer Wheaton, 32, a social media influencer, 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 Reagen UCLA Medical Center.

According to Wheaton’s Instagram story, she and her friend were dressed in all-white, similar to the required attire to attend the Bootsy Bellows White Party at Nobu, a yearly event for the world-renowned restaurant.

Photo of Summer Wheaton, left, and her friend on their way to the Nobu White party in
Malibu on fourth of July wearing all white.

Malibu Daily News received screen shots and a link to the video confirming Wheaton and her friend were in attendance.

Summer Wheaton, center (bending over) and her friend behind her, at the Nobu White Party on July 4th, 2024.

The fatal accident occurred just 20 minutes after the Nobu party concluded.

This year, the City of Malibu denied a Temporary Use Permit for the event and ultimately, Nobu defied the City of Malibu, moving forward with the party with sold out tables ranging from $10,000-$75,000. 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.

Nobu’s legal counsel, Malibu resident Perry Wander, went on social media representing his client making multiple statements before the event supporting the restaurant’s position and why it chose to continue with the event.

After the party, Wander proclaimed the event went off “without a hitch”, however, the post was deleted a short time later.

According to the Sheriff’s Department speed and alcohol are considered to be contributing factors.

At press time, no arrests have been made.

This is a developing story.

*Feature photo: Whiz Khalifa at Nobu White Party, July 4th, 2024. Source: Blackgrid