High school tennis star Braun Levi died in brutal collision. Parents sue alleged drunk driver
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The car careened down Sepulveda Boulevard, collided into Braun Levi and sent the Loyola High School tennis star flying through the air.Levi was a local legend, a nationally ranked tennis player with four Mission League doubles championships under his belt and a spot at the University of Virginia awaiting him in the fall.But just one month before graduation, his bright future was cut short.The woman who allegedly struck him around 12:46 a.m.
on May 4 had a blood alcohol level of nearly twice the legal limit and was driving on a suspended license from a prior DUI arrest, according to court records.Levi was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
California Braun Levi’s family already had lost their house in the Palisades fire.The Loyola High School senior died early Sunday.
Police arrested a Los Angeles woman, on suspicion of drunk driving and homicide.In the months that have followed the deadly collision, Levi’s parents have funneled their grief into advocacy — launching the Live Like Braun Foundation to raise money for scholarships and public tennis centers and awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.Now, they have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged drunk driver, Jenia Resha Belt, 33, and are seeking $200 million in damages for the Live Like Braun Foundation.Belt could not be immediately reached for comment.“Our family has made the decision to file a civil lawsuit against the individual responsible for taking Braun’s life,” his mother, Jennifer Levi, said in a statement.
“This is not a decision rooted in anger, vengeance, or financial gain.It is a decision grounded in accountability, prevention, reform, and the unwavering love we have for Braun.”Belt was arrested by Manhattan Beach police at the site of the crash, which happened around 12:46 a.m.
near the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and 2nd Street.She was relea...