HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. , A Huntington Beach man faces a vehicular manslaughter charge after his friend died while car surfing on Pacific Coast Highway last summer, prosecutors said.
Brandon Scott Soleau, 21, was charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in the death of 20-year-old Kolby Kekoa Aipa. Aipa, a surfer, was the grandson of surfboard shaper Ben Aipa of Aipa Surfboards.
Investigators alleged Soleau drove his truck in excess of 50 mph while Aipa held onto the vehicle from an e-bike, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Aipa fell and died from his injuries in August.
“This tragedy cost the life of a young man with his entire future ahead of him and will forever impact a young man who will have to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his friend,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “This is a stark reminder that every action and every decision have a consequence, and in this instance the price of those decisions was the life of a 20-year-old man and that is a price no one should ever have to pay.”
Prosecutors accuse Soleau of allowing Aipa to car surf on his truck. The activity is illegal in California.
In the weeks after Aipa’s death, family and friends held a memorial service. During the gathering, Aipa’s family shared memories of his role in the local surfing community.
“Our son … he was a figure here, man. Like people loved him,” his father said at the time. “He was one of those authentic individuals that really cared about … you know, ‘Hey. How are you doing? How’s your day?’ What can I do for you?’ He was like that with friends and strangers.”
Soleau is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted.