A Huntington Beach man is facing a felony after what prosecutors say started as a dangerous stunt among friends ended with the death of a rising local surf talent.
Prosecutors on Thursday charged 21-year-old Brandon Scott Soleau with one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in connection with the death of his friend, 20-year-old Kolby Kekoa Aipa, following an e-bike crash in Huntington Beach last summer. Authorities say Aipa had been holding on to Soleau’s pickup truck while riding an e-bike and later lost control, suffering injuries that led to his death several days after the collision. Soleau is scheduled to be arraigned next Thursday, July 23.
Prosecutors Allege High-Speed Tow Turned Deadly
According to prosecutors, Soleau pulled up on Aug. 2, 2025, in a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and loaded eight friends into the truck before heading onto Pacific Coast Highway at about 50 miles per hour. As they drove, Aipa grabbed on to the pickup and rode alongside on his e-bike while being towed. Prosecutors say the tow went on for more than a mile before Aipa lost control near Seapoint Street, crashed and later died of blunt head trauma. A passenger in the truck reportedly recorded the incident on a phone. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed the case this week, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Kolby Aipa’s Community and Legacy
Aipa, a Huntington Beach native and grandson of renowned surfboard shaper Ben Aipa, was a familiar face in the local lineup, and his death hit the surf community hard. Friends, family and fellow surfers organized memorials and a paddle-out in his honor. His family wrote that they were “completely heartbroken,” and Huntington Beach city records show the City Council later designated Sept. 18 as “Kolby Aipa Day.” The loss has become a rallying point for local safety advocates and public officials, as reported by the Los Angeles Times and in city documents.
Rising Injuries and Calls for Action
Aipa’s death has also been folded into a broader debate over how to handle high-speed e-bikes as their popularity surges and emergency rooms see more riders coming in banged up. Families and officials have pointed to the case while pushing for tighter rules and stepped-up enforcement, noting a jump in serious collisions and hospital visits. Providence Health Hospitals reported roughly 600 e-bike related trauma visits in 2025. In response, state lawmakers have floated new bills aimed at higher-speed e-bikes, and local police departments say they have launched training and enforcement efforts to curb dangerous riding, according to Spectrum News.
What the Charge Means in Court
Under California law, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence is a serious felony. A conviction can bring a state prison sentence of two, four or six years, depending on how the court weighs the case. Prosecutors will have to show that the defendant’s driving was so reckless that it created a high risk of death or great bodily injury and that a reasonable person would have known it. The framework comes from California Penal Code sections 192 and 193, which are detailed on the California Legislature and California Legislature sites.
The case is set to return to court at the West Justice Center in Westminster, where Soleau is expected to be formally arraigned on July 23. Prosecutors say the investigation remains active as they prepare to lay out their evidence in court.
