Influencer Summer Wheaton blamed for fatal July 4 crash after celeb-packed party at Nobu
Social media influencer Summer Wheaton was identified as the driver who caused a fatal car crash on the Fourth of July after leaving a celeb-packed unpermitted party in Nobu in Malibu, according to officials.
The self-styled “wellness advocate” had partied at the Thursday bash hosted by the Bootsy Bellows nightclub and attended by celebs such as Wiz Khalifa, Tyga and Mike Tyson, according to ABC 7.
After leaving, Wheaton, 32, is accused of driving past a center median on the Pacific Coast Highway and crashing her 2019 Mercedes Benz head-on against a 2020 Cadillac, killing the other driver, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Wheaton and the passenger in the hit Cadillac were both taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries. The Cadillac driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation suggests that speed and/or alcohol may have caused the fatal crash, officials told the Malibu Times.
Formerly a licensed real estate agent, Wheaton has made a name for herself on social media as a “wellness advocate” promoting healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
Wheaton, who boasted more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, has made her account private and took down her personal website following the fatal crash.
She has yet to make a public statement about the incident.
The deadly crash happened at around 10:30 p.m. after Wheaton was spotted leaving the unpermitted party held at swanky Nobu, ABC 7 said.
Malibu officials have said they denied Nobu’s request for a permit for the Fourth of July party because the owners did not comply with conditions related to traffic and safety, but the party went on anyway.
“The city attorney responded advising them that doing so would constitute a willful violation of the city’s municipal code and would subject them to code enforcement action,” Malibu city manager Steve McClary said in a public meeting Monday.
Malibu officials said the cause of the crash is still being investigated, with the city’s code enforcement department handling the case against Nobu.
Owners for the restaurant did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Malibu Mayor Steve Uhring expressed his condolences over the crash, which is only the latest in a series of fatal collisions along the Pacific Coast Highway.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life resulting from last night’s accident,” Uhring said in a statement.
“This heartbreaking incident underscores the importance of the City’s ongoing efforts to address safety on Pacific Coast Highway,” he added.
