A Malibu resident and member of a popular local band died Sunday afternoon in a fatal car accident.
Chris Williams, 31, was a member of Backbone, a band that played frequently at local establishments.
Williams was a passenger in car driven by Travis Bennett, 20, when a deputy on motorcycle on Pacific Coast Highway near Latigo Canyon Road, according to sheriff’s officials, stopped them.
The sheriff’s report said that Bennett had been acting “weird” and seemed to be under the influence of alcohol, possibly also a drug. Bennett became angry and agitated and as the deputy attempted to restrain him, Bennett yelled to Williams to “go.”
Williams pulled into traffic in a green 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse, “almost got hit” and then turned up the canyon, said Det. Robert Evans of the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s Station.
Responding deputies later found the wrecked car that apparently tumbled off Latigo Canyon Road and ended up on another part of the road. Williams had been ejected from the car. Mountain Rescue Team members found the severely injured Williams on the side of a hill. He was transported to UCLA Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. Deputies said that a couple of witnesses coming down Latigo Canyon said a car almost ran them off the road.
Det. Evans said at press time that Bennett has still refused to talk to deputies about the events, even declining to name Williams.
Bennett is being charged with driving under the influence and resisting arrest.
Sheriff’s deputies are asking anyone who witnessed the car crash to please call the station at 310.456.5507.