Months After Losing Their Home In Palisades Fire, Family Loses Teen In Crash

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — The next few months of Braun Levi's life should have been some of the most exciting of his life.

Graduation was less than a month away for the Loyola High School senior, and he was set to attend the University of Virginiain the fall.

But the 18-year-old's life was cut short early Sunday morning when he was fatally struck by a driver in Manhattan Beach, according to police.

Levi was in the area of Sepulveda Boulevard and First Street around 12:46 a.m. on Sunday when a woman suspected of driving under the influence hit him, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and took Levi to a local trauma hospital. But despite efforts to save his life, he died from his injuries, police said.

"We are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Loyola High School senior, Braun Levi," Loyola's athletic department said in a post Sunday. "Levi was a true leader throughout our campus, serving as a member of the Student Council, a senior Big Brother, Kairos retreat leader and volleyball team manager, to name a few. "

The driver of the vehicle, whom police identified as Jenia Belt, 33, of Los Angeles, was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence causing injury and murder.

Loyola High School Principal Jamal Adams told Patch that Levi had a huge impact on everyone he met.

Levi and his family lost their Pacific Palisades home in the January fires, Adams said. Immediately, Levi and a friend took it upon themselves to organize hangouts and retreats to help those affected by the fires.

"He was the absolute brightest light in the room," Adams said. "He's the epitome of what we want our young people to be."

Levi was the team captain of the Loyola tennis team and a four-year starter for varsity, according to the school's athletic department.

He had recently won his fourth consecutive league championship, cementing himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the program's history.

"He's a top-notch athlete and maybe one of the best student-athletes in our school's history," Adams said. "And still humble enough to be the volleyball manager too."

But aside from his accomplishments as an athlete, Levi was beloved for his personality and "boundless energy," the athletic department said in a statement.

"He was a huge light in our community," Adams said. "He tied together different parts and different factions of friends."

Tributes to Levi poured in on his social media.

"The best friend a kid could ask for," one person wrote.

"Anyone who got to know you knows how lucky they are," another post read. "I'm going to live and love as big as you every day."

City News Service contributed to this report.