Life Of Teen Killed In South Bay Crash To Be Celebrated With 'Paddle Out'

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A “paddle out” celebration of life for Braun Levi, a Loyola High School senior killed in a crash earlier this month, will be held Saturday in Manhattan Beach.

Levi, 18, was fatally struck by a driver near the area of First Street and Sepulveda Boulevard during the early hours of May 4, police said.

The driver, identified by police as Jenia Belt, 33, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. She was also driving with a suspended license due to a previous DUI arrest.

"Braun was my best friend, he was everybody's best friend," his father, Daniel Levi, told NBCLA. "He had this other gear, this energy that filled the room and made everybody love him."

Levi's family lost their homes in the Pacific Palisades fire and have been living in Hermosa Beach. The 18-year-old was set to graduate from Loyola High School next month and planned to attend the University of Virginia in the fall.

"He was the absolute brightest light in the room," Loyola High Principal Jamal Adams told Patch earlier this week. "He's the epitome of what we want our young people to be."

The paddle out event will be held at 10 a.m. in the area of First Street in Manhattan Beach. In place of flowers, Levi's family asks that people donate to the scholarship they've started in honor of him, called the "Live Like Braun" Scholarship Fund. To donate, click here, and note Braun's name in the gift designation field.

After the paddle out, Loyola High School will host a "Celebration of Life" event on campus at 6 p.m.