The thirty-five-year-old’s defense claims the rideshare driver was at fault for the head-on collision.
Social media influencer Summer Wheaton pleaded not guilty during a court arraignment following a fatal 2024 suspected drunk driving collision that claimed the life of a rideshare driver along Pacific Coast Highway. Wheaton has asserted that the crash was the fault of the victim, as reported by KTLA 5 News.
The 35-year-old entered her plea in Van Nuys Superior Court. Wheaton faces criminal charges of vehicular manslaughter alongside two counts of driving under the influence. Since the high-profile incident, her social media following has dropped by roughly 5,500 users from her previous peak of 100,000 followers.
Prosecutors allege that Wheaton left a holiday party at Nobu Malibu before crossing the center median into oncoming traffic within the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Her eastbound 2019 Mercedes-Benz sedan collided directly with a westbound 2020 Cadillac SUV.
The impact killed the driver of the SUV, 44-year-old Martin Okeke, who was working as a rideshare driver at the time of the collision. Family members and friends organized a GoFundMe campaign to support Okeke’s wife and children and cover his funeral expenses, describing the late father as a man known for his unwavering love and generosity, which did not reach its goal.
