Self-described social media influencer Summer Wheaton who was behind the wheel in a July 4 crash that killed a father is now being sued for wrongful death. The family of Martin Okeke filed the lawsuit; Wheaton has not been charged in the crash that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says is still under investigation.
The lawsuit alleges Wheaton was driving under the influence of alcohol, driving recklessly, and not paying attention when her car crossed the center median and hit Okeke’s ride-share car head on causing death. The lawsuit also names Nobu Malibu, the Hwood Group LLC, and DBDJ LLC which annually hosts a Fourth of July party at Nobu.
Okeke’s family is seeking unspecified damages.
In the meantime, after a long period of silence on her Instagram account, Wheaton posted on Dec. 17 saying, “The last few months have been hard” but does not mention the crash. She then pitches a faith-based planner booklet she is selling for $34.99 plus tax and delivery fees, the benefits of which are described to include staying “mindful and aligned with your God-given purpose.” As of December 20, more than 100 people had favorable comments. One person posted asking Wheaton to address the fatal crash.
UPDATE:
The woman behind the wheel in a July 4 crash that killed a married father of a young daughter is being sued for wrongful death by the victim’s family. The relatives of Martin Okeke are seeking unspecified damages against Summer Wheaton, a micro social media influencer with just over 100,000 followers.
The lawsuit alleges Wheaton was “severely intoxicated and impaired,” driving under the influence of alcohol, driving recklessly, and not paying attention when her car crossed the center median of Pacific Coast Highway and hit Okeke’s car head-on, resulting in his death. The 44-year-old was on the job as a ride-share driver in a westbound white 2020 Cadillac Escalade on July 4 with a teenage passenger in the backseat. The youngster was injured in the crash that occurred at 10:20 that evening. Okeke died shortly after. The 32-year-old Wheaton, driving a black 2019 Mercedes Benz eastbound alsosuffered an arm injury and other unspecified wounds in the collision.
The collision occurred just after a controversial annual booze-soaked party wrapped up at Nobu restaurant. The lawsuit contends there is video of Wheaton attending the “Red White & Bootsy” party.
The party, which sold sponsorships to liquor companies and where tables cost a minimum of $10,000, did not offer valet parking that evening. Guests could arrive by shuttles provided by the party’s hosts. However, The Malibu Times was on scene July 4, and witnessed many guests driving to the site and parking elsewhere on PCH or in temporary lots nearby and then walking in. The permit application filed with the city promised that guests would be shuttled in and provided wristbands to prevent walk-ins, but no restrictions on walk-ins, and only a handful of shuttles ferrying guests, were observed.
As The Malibu Times reported in June, the Temporary Use Permit (TUP) application for the event contained numerous elements of non-compliance with the city’s rules for such events. Additionally, the applicant acted in a manner inconsistent with its representations in the days after the application was filed, advertising the event to the public after indicating it would not do so, failing to file an approved parking plan, and encouraging guests to use ride shares after representing that all non-celebrity guests would be shuttled from outside the city.
The city ultimately declined to issue a permit, finding that the applicant had failed to satisfy the conditions previously imposed for its approval.
Six months after the fatal crash, Wheaton has not been charged with any criminal count. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the case is still under investigation. The LACO District Attorney’s Office, now led by Nathan Hochman, has yet to announce possible charges in the case.
Immediately after the July 4 fatality, Wheaton, who has described herself as a “wellness advocate,” turned her social media accounts private. But on Dec. 17 she went public for the first time in months, posting to her yepitsmesummerInstagram account. While not directly referencing the fatal accident, she begins, “you know that feeling when life feels like it’s all falling apart but somehow it’s the start of something really beautiful?” She then shares that “the last few months have been hard” while caressing a long, nasty scar on her arm. The video post then transitions to a sales pitch for a faith-based daily planner she is promoting for $34.99 plus tax and handling fees, the benefits of which are described toinclude staying “mindful and aligned with your God-given purpose.” As of Dec. 20, more than 100 people had favorable comments on her site, including one stating “God gives us second chances.” Only one person posted asking Wheaton to address the fatal crash.
The poster, ilooktfgood, wrote “Are you going to address the innocent killing of a father that YOU caused by DRINKING AND DRIVING or are you going to act like nothing happened?” At the time of this writing, that post had 20 likes.
The July 4 accident not only resulted in one death and two injuries, it blocked traffic on PCH for nearly 10 hours, causing traffic delays and preventing scores of essential workers and others from getting to their jobs, doctor’s appointments, and other obligations. Those who could not access their workplaces may have lost wages for the day.
Martin Okeke was the 61st person killed in a highway collision on PCH since the community started keeping track in 2014.