The district attorney’s office in Malibu filed charges Wednesday against Malibu Councilman Skylar Peak stemming from a Christmas Day crash.
Peak faces charges of misdemeanor hit-and-run, reckless driving and vandalism, according to a spokeswoman at the Los Angeles County DA’s office in Malibu. Peak is scheduled to be arraigned on Wed., March 27, at the Malibu Courthouse.
When reached by telephone by The Malibu Times, Michael Schwimer, Peak’s attorney, did not wish to comment on the charges or what plea Peak might enter next month.
“I do not have a comment at this time. I’m sure that I will [in the coming days],” Schwimer said.
The wreck happened on Christmas Day when Peak allegedly drove over more than 400 feet of road delineators on Pacific Coast Highway and abandoned his damaged pickup truck near Westward Beach.
Authorities received a 911 call on Dec. 25 at 7:05 a.m. from a witness who reported “aggressive and angry driving” on Pacific Coast Highway near Zuma Beach, according to Det. Dave Huelsen of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Deputies responding to the scene at 7:30 a.m. found a white GMC Duramax truck with front-end damage and leaking fluids partially blocking the roadway near the intersection of Westward Beach Road and Zuma Bay Way, approximately two miles from Guernsey Avenue.
After running the truck’s license plates, deputies determined it was registered to Peak, sheriff’s authorities said. The councilman was not at the scene when deputies arrived.
“From what the witness describes the person was doing, it was reckless driving,” Huelsen said.
Peak confirmed to sheriff ’s officials that he was driving the vehicle as it headed eastbound on PCH and drove over a 411-foot stretch of yellow paddle barriers and “qwick kurb” just east of Guernsey Avenue, Huelsen said.
Caltrans estimated the damage cost between $3,000 and $4,000 to replace 23 damaged paddles.
In an interview with The Malibu Times in January, Peak would not comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigation but denied allegations of reckless driving and described the incident as a “total accident.”