Driver In Manhattan Beach Crash That Killed Teen Had Suspended License: Report

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A woman suspected of driving under the influence when she struck and killed an 18-year-old in Manhattan Beach Sunday morning was driving with a suspended license due to a previous DUI arrest, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles resident Jenia Belt, 33, was arrested Sunday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence and murder in connection with the crash that left Loyola High School senior Braun Levi dead.

SEE ALSO: 'Brightest Light In The Room': Community Mourns Teen Killed In Crash

Belt, according to The Times, had her license suspended last year after previously facing another DUI charge. In 2023, she was charged with driving under the influence, refusing to take a chemical test and hit-and-run with property damage, according to The Times.

Although she was able to get the DUI charge dismissed as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, the Department of Motor Vehicles suspended her license in January 2024, according to The Times.

Manhattan Beach police said Levi was in the area of Sepulveda Boulevard and First Street around 12:46 a.m. when Belt drove into him. When police arrived, they found him lying on the ground.

The 18-year-old, who was a stand-out athlete at Loyola High School and described by his principal as the "brightest light in the room," died from his injuries at a local hospital.

Levi was less than a month away from graduating. He was set to attend the University of Virginia in the fall.

"We're still trying to wrap our heads around it," Loyola High School Principal Jamal Adams told Patch on Monday. "It's been heartbreaking and devastating for our community."

Read more from the Los Angeles Times.