March 31, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Instagram Influencer Faces Lawsuit Over Fatal Fourth of July Crash in Malibu

Family of Rideshare Driver Alleges DUI in Crash Following Nobu Party

The family of Martin Okeke, a rideshare driver, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against social media “wellness” influencer Summer Wheaton, alleging she was “severely intoxicated and impaired” during a crash that claimed Okeke’s life on July 4.

The collision occurred on Pacific Coast Highway after Wheaton, who has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, left an exclusive “white party” event at Nobu Malibu, a high-profile restaurant. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials, Wheaton was driving a white Mercedes-Benz that crossed the center median and struck Okeke’s vehicle head-on. Okeke was pronounced dead at the scene.

The event at Nobu, attended by hundreds of guests, had been denied a temporary use permit by city officials due to the restaurant’s failure to meet traffic and safety conditions. Despite the denial, the party proceeded.

Wheaton, who has no posts after July 2 of this year until her newest post five days ago, suddenly returned to social media after five months to promote a “faith-based planner” that she has for sale. The post is mostly about how “the last few months have been hard” and makes no mention of the crash. It is captioned, “Things aren’t always as they seem.” 

If you follow the link to the company named in the post Template to Life, it seems like a company that has not been in business for very long because the profile only has three posts. Wheaton has an additional post on the second profile where she talks directly to the camera explaining the planner. 

Wheaton has not commented on the crash or the family’s lawsuit.

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