TapouT’s “Mask” Killed in Car Accident
Charles "Mask" Lewis
Tapout co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. was killed early Wednesday in Newport Beach, California in a car accident that tore the Ferrari he was driving in half.
The LA Times has details on the tragic accident:
A bizarre car crash in Newport Beach involving two luxury cars early this morning left one person dead, a second injured, a third arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter and a fourth person was detained by police long enough to sober up.
A Newport Beach Police Department officer allegedly witnessed the wreck and saw a red Ferrari and a white Porsche “spinning out of control” on Jamboree Road between Bison Avenue and East Bluff Drive at 12:57 a.m., Newport Beach Lt. Craig Fox said. The Ferrari “hit the curb and then collided with a pole.” The Porsche came to a stop at the scene for a few seconds and then sped away, Fox said.
“It was terrible. It was extensive damage to the vehicle,” Fox said, adding that the Ferrari appeared to have split in half.
An unidentified man in the Ferrari was pronounced dead. A woman in the car was ejected during the accident and taken to a hospital, where she was in stable condition, Fox said. He said police have not yet determined which one was driving and which one was the passenger.
Police located the Porsche on Bison Avenue just west of Jamboree Road shortly afterward and saw a man and a woman walking away from the car.
“The vehicle had moderate damage and appeared to be consistent with the car involved in the accident on Jamboree,” Fox said. “They determined that the male had been driving the Porsche, and he was arrested” for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, he said.
Police identified the driver of the Porsche as Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa, and said his bail was set at $1 million. Newport Beach resident Lynn Marie Nabozny, 32, was a passenger in the Porsche and was arrested for public intoxication. She was released about 7:45 a.m. and will not be formally charged, Fox said. He said the investigation is ongoing but that police identified skid marks at the scene “consistent with excessive speeding.”
MMAFrenzy.com sends it’s condolences to Lewis’ family and friends. We ask our readers to be respectful, because, love or hate the brand TapouT built, there’s no denying the tremendous positive impact they’ve had on the sport.
Update from Kris Karkoski on 3/9/2009 at 5:48pm ET
TapouT has confirmed, in an announcement on tapout.com, that “Mask” was killed in an overnight accident:
“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis following a car accident that occurred last night. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available. Many thanks to all for the outpouring of blessings and well-wishes during this incredibly difficult time.”
Loading ...
Holy Hannah!! If it is true, R.I.P. Mask.
Condolences to the family, whether it was “Mask” or not. If it was in fact Mask, it will be interesting to see what happens with the brand moving forward.
This is why racing should only take place on a track, and not in the street.
Do some basic research.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/03/ferrari-crash-1.html
Original Article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ferrari28feb28,0,3986184.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Those are two completely different stories, about two completely different Ferraris, and the second one is from February.
Self edit, I was rude.
Thanks for the link to the LA Time’s blog, I added their info to the post because it added some additional details.
However, as Justin said, those are about two different accidents, the first about today’s crash that reportedly killed “Mask” but the second is about an unrelated incident.
TMZ is confirming it, don’t know how reliable they are:
http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/11/tapout-owner-dies-in-horrific-ferrari-crash/
Wow…
Unreal! I enjoy watching the TAPOUT series and it gave me a full appreciation of the company and the guys and how they look for raw talent and promote the sport of MMA. Watching the show, MASK was always about helping out people and using his own personal experience to better people! My thoughts are with his friends and family!
Yep, it’s pretty much real. I just watched the news on FOX and they said it was him. R.I.P Mask……We’ll always remember what you did for the sport.
Dudu! That sucks! My prayers go out to his family and friends. I love Tapout and Mask R.I.P man.
This is a sad day for me. I loved The show that they did and he was truly a ambassador for this sport. Mask was a great guy with a hell of a heart and passion for this sport that is unmatched. Rest In Peace my friend and I will see you in the great octagon in the sky. I don’t know about everybody else on this site but I think Tapout was and is a credit to the sport and this guys impact will trly be missed. I hope they continue on as I am a big supporter of their clothing line and own much of their gear. Be strong Punkass and Skyscrape. My prayers are with his family and freinds.
Dude holy $hit. R.I.P
Tapout is a huge part of MMA and Tapout helped this sport grow and helped bring this sport to new places. At UFC 100 Mask should be recognized along with his tapout buddies and be inducted into the HALL Of Fame. Every MMA organization should recognize Mask and the rest of Tapout.
It sucks for MMA fans but HoF? That is a bit much. I definitely agree that he deserves to be recognized by the UFC. If there was a general MMA HoF, I would agree but not the UFC HoF.
Your right, i only say the UFC Hall Of Fame becuase there is no general MMA Hall Of Fame. And since the UFC is the face of MMA why not induct Tapout into UFC Hall Of Fame.
R.I.P Mask. Know MMA fan will forget what you did for the sport.
I wouldn’t be suprised if they were put in the ufc hall.
R.I.P Mask
It’s on tapout.com too. This really sucks.
RIP Mask, you will truely be missed , and my prayer go out to all of your family and friend
Let’s just leave it as R.I.P Mask. He was as importent to this sport as Forrest Griffen vs Stephen Bonner.
Goodbye Mask you will never know how many people you influnced.
I wouldnt mind mask being inducted into the ufc hall of fame because if you think about there may not be a ufc without tapout…..Tapout is a symbol of mma and like alot of people say…I believe ultimate mma magazine had mask as like #3 of the most important people of mma….this is a true loss, Im really sad because the guy was really funny i cant imagine what the rest of the company will do without him…hopefully a memorial mask tee will be made I would really like one
I loved his show and he did a lot to help young fighters. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family.
We just met Mask, Scrape, and PunkA$$ this Sunday in Cincinnati, OH. My son took some awesome funny pics with Mask.. You could feel his genuine, kind, and loving spirit.. God Bless.R.I.P.
You will never know what you have done for me and my family through your inspiring story of overcoming odds and conquering the odds!
Yasmine, Damian, Lexi, and X-Man….
Very unfortunate. I have a lot of respect for the whole TapouT crew. Mask was the man…
GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL, MASK, YOU MADE THE DIFFERENCE…RIP…
I can honestly say for what Mask and the tapout crew have done since day 1 for MMA and for the Love they have shown for the fighters and fans we have truly lost a Brother.
You will be missed and thank you for all you have done.
I was a bit taken back by the news of this, let me start by stating R.I.P. Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr.
TapouT as a MMA business has helped grow the sport tremendously.. More so than any casual fan would know, they (the 3 of them) were into MMA before it was even legalized putting money and sponsorship behind fighters… Their growth as a company is something that all “small” business’ dream of, and they were on their way to being even bigger.. Racing isn’t ok (on the streets) but we all have done some dumb shhh in our lives and today is seriously a sad day for MMA, MMA fighters,MMA fans etc.. I’m also thankful for the respect sent to Charles friends and family here in the FrenZy comment section… Peace to Charles Lewis Jr, you will be missed by many and forgotten by none that have been apart of you life…
The “MASK LAW MAN” will be missed by fans and the law enforcement community!!! Mask work as a Cop for several years prior to starting up TAPOUT!!!! His smile and crazy laugh will be remembered!!! MISS YA BUDDY…
http://www.ocregister.com/photos/newport-beach-car-2331515-ferrari-passenger/pid2331980
Thanks for the link.
There’s also this as well from the Newport Beach PD. http://www.nbpd.org/civica/press/display.asp?layout=12&Entry=232
i cant even like stand to look at those pictures man…i mean mask was such a nice guy he took pictures and autographs for anybody at mma events and just on the street he cared about mma and about life in genral, he will be hugly missed mma is nothing without tapout
***RIP CHARLES “MASK” LEWIS JR.***
***RIP EVAN TANNER***
***RIP JUSTIN EILERS***
***RIP JUSTIN LEVENS***
MMA IS NOTHING WITHOUT THEM
Really?? Nothing? I understand the fact that 4 relatively important people to the sport are dead, but let’s be honest, MMA will carry on without them.
You don’t get the point. Mask is one of the most importent people in the UFC. And Evan Tanner was a former Champion. And honestly How many TAPOUT shirts do you see at mma events. He changed mma forever
No, I do get it, but the basic facts are that while MMA has suffered a blow it’s melodramatic and overblown to say that MMA is “nothing” without them. Mourn the dead but don’t deify them.
HoF… um.. next we’ll have the mascotts being inducted into the baseball hall of fame yah?
maybe next we can put some internet trolls with an inflated sense of self importance in right vinnie
Mask your big spirit will be missed.
I send condolences to the family and TapouT partners.
Keep the faith.