Manslaughter Charges Filed in Fatal 'Car Surfing' Death of Surf Heir Kolby Aipa

Nearly a year after the tragic death of 20-year-old Kolby Aipa, a Huntington Beach man has been charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. The incident, which occurred in August 2025, involved a dangerous 'car surfing' stunt where Aipa, a rising surf star, lost control while tethered to a moving pickup truck.

Key takeaways

• Brandon Scott Soleau, 21, faces one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
• The victim, Kolby Aipa, was the grandson of legendary surfboard shaper Ben Aipa.
• The incident occurred when Aipa held onto a moving truck while riding an e-bike at speeds of 50 mph.
• If convicted, Soleau faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison.

Details of the fatal accident

On the night of August 2, 2025, following a movie premiere in Huntington Beach, the fatal event unfolded on the Pacific Coast Highway. Prosecutors allege that Brandon Scott Soleau was driving a 2015 Toyota Tacoma with eight passengers when Aipa, riding an e-bike alongside the vehicle, requested to 'car surf.' Soleau reportedly granted permission, allowing Aipa to grasp the front passenger window while the truck reached speeds of approximately 50 mph. Shortly after merging onto the highway, Aipa lost control of his bike and suffered fatal blunt head trauma.

Legal proceedings and charges

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office officially filed charges against Soleau, citing gross negligence in the operation of his vehicle. Under California law, it is illegal for individuals on bicycles or e-bikes to attach themselves to moving vehicles on public roadways. District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the incident serves as a somber reminder of the life-altering consequences of reckless decisions made on the road.

A legacy of aloha

Kolby Aipa was widely recognized as 'surf royalty,' following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Ben Aipa, the iconic shaper who pioneered the 'sting' surfboard design. Beyond his family lineage, the younger Aipa was a celebrated athlete in his own right, known for his kindness and community spirit. In the months following his passing, the local surfing community held paddle-outs and memorial services to honor his life, and he was posthumously inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame.

Sources

• Manslaughter charge filed in death of 'surf royalty heir' in Orange County, Los Angeles Times.
• Driver charged in death of California ‘surf royalty’ after e-bike towing crash, KTLA.
• 21-year-old charged with vehicular manslaughter in OC 'car-surfing' crash that killed beloved surfer, ABC7 Los Angeles.