The parents of high school tennis player Braun Levi have filed a $200 million wrongful death lawsuit against the drunk driver who tragically killed their son on May 4.
The driver in question was found to have a blood alcohol level that was nearly twice the legal limit and is believed to have been driving on a suspended license from a prior DUI. The lawsuit comes as there have been no criminal charges filed against the suspect six months after the teenager's death.
Parents of High School Tennis Player File Wrongful Death Lawsuit
At the time of the accident, the suspect's vehicle careened down Sepulveda Boulevard and collided with the high school student, sending him flying through the air. The victim was a nationally ranked tennis player who had four Mission League doubles championships as well as a spot at the University of Virginia waiting for him in the fall.
Unfortunately, one month before his graduation, Levi was struck by a drunk driver, before being transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The teenager's parents have transformed their grief into advocacy in the months after their son's death. They launch the "Live Like Braun Foundation" to raise money for scholarships and public tennis centers, and raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
Read more: Texas Teenager Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison Over DUI Crash That Killed 6 Members of Indian Family
The couple has not filed the $200 million wrongful death lawsuit against the suspect, 33-year-old Jenia Resha Belt. In a statement, the mother, Jennifer, said that their family made the decision to file the lawsuit rooted in accountability, prevention, and reform, not anger or vengeance.
The family's complaint states that after the suspect's prior DUI incident, she still willfully chose to operate her vehicle while severely intoxicated in "conscious disregard for the safety of others," the Circling the News reported.
Fatal DUI Incident
The incident is similar to another accident involving a 13-year-old boy who was killed in Dana Point following a hit-and-run involving a driver who was later arrested for DUI and murder. The suspect was identified as a 59-year-old who was booked for felony DUI, felony hit-and-run, and murder.
The driver was identified as Bradley Gene Funk from San Juan Capistrano, who was found to have two prior DUI arrests. The victim in the case was identified as Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco.
Authorities believe that the 13-year-old boy was walking to school with his older brother, who was not struck by the vehicle. The victim's backpack could be seen on the ground at the scene of the accident, where investigators said the suspect's vehicle jumped the curb and slammed into the young boy, as per ABC7.
