Suspended driver in fatal crash involving Braun Levi found to be under arrest, according to records.
A 33-year-old woman faced arrest early Sunday morning in Manhattan Beach for a tragic crash that claimed the life of Loyola High School senior, Braun Levi. Public records show that the suspect, Jenia Resha Belt, had been driving on a suspended license due to a previous drunk driving incident in 2023.
Los Angeles County Superior Court records indicate that Belt had been charged with DUI after an incident on Nov. 25, 2023. As a result, she was barred from driving, according to records from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Belt was charged with having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher and either driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or refusing to take a chemical test. Additionally, she was suspected of hit-and-run with property damage.
In September 2024, Belt pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of hit-and-run with property damage. The DUI-related charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. She was sentenced to a year of probation and was ordered to make restitution, according to court records. The California DMV suspended her driver's license on Jan. 18, 2024, due to allegedly driving with an excessive blood alcohol level in the 2023 incident. Her license remains in suspended status with the DMV, according to department records.
Tragically, the incident that led to Belt's arrest took place early Sunday morning when she struck Levi, 18, as he was walking with a friend in the 100 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard. Levi, a tennis star at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, was just a month away from his graduation and had recently lost his family's house in the Palisades fire.
California
A Shining Presence: Loyola High School Tennis Star Killed in Manhattan Beach Crash; DUI Suspect Arrested
The close-knit Loyola High School community mourns the loss of Braun Levi, an 18-year-old tennis star who lost his life in a crash on May 5, 2024 (reported in 2025). The Los Angeles woman, Jenia Resha Belt, arrested for the incident, stands accused of driving under the influence and homicide.
As of Monday, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office had not presented a criminal case stemming from the Manhattan Beach police investigation. The office did not respond to an email requesting comment on Belt's prior charges.
Bert remains in custody without bail in Manhattan Beach, according to arrest records. A public defender representing Belt in her previous case could not be reached for comment.
Footage from the crash site showed a silver Infiniti SUV with damage to the hood and a smashed windshield. A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told videographers on the scene that he had been walking ahead of Levi when he heard the crash. Upon turning back, he saw Levi lying on the ground.
The outpouring of tributes from Levi's friends and classmates was immense, both online and at a prayer vigil hosted on Loyola High's campus Sunday night. Brian Held, coach of the Loyola High School varsity tennis team, remembers Levi as a three-year captain and "probably the most decorated player ever to play for the school."
High School Sports
A Heartrending Goodbye: Doubles Partner of Fallen Loyola Senior Braun Levi Grieves, Shares Memories
Cooper Schwartz, the tennis doubles partner of Braun Levi, took to Instagram to grieve the loss of his friend. In his post, Schwartz described Levi as "the greatest work-hard, play-hard exemplar of all time." A photo accompanying the post showed the two boys years earlier, holding tennis trophies.
Schwartz expressed confusion and sadness over Levi's death, stating that he would "probably never stop asking himself 'Why him?'" He went on to say that Levi would always be "who we toast to, who we laugh about when we try to explain anything [he's] ever done, and who we cry about knowing we can't just give him a hug."
On Sunday evening, students and faculty packed Caruso Hall on Loyola's campus to pray and share words of remembrance. The school's choir performed several hymns, including "On Eagles Wings" and the school song "I Am Loyola."
Assistant Principal Paul Jordan, choking back tears, described Levi as a "friend and inspiration." In his farewell speech to the crowd, Jordan said, "He was a friend to all who knew him, and we are all better for having known him. Braun loved his family, he loved Loyola, he loved his Palisades community, and he loved all of you, his fellow Cubs."
More to Read
- 6 Friends, 5 Seats: Too Many Youth Piled into Car Before Deadly High-Speed O.C. Crash, Police Say
- Siblings, 9 and 10, Die in Mother's Suspected DUI Crash in California Wine Country
- Instagram Influencer Charged in Fatal July 4th Wreck on PCH Ordered to Wear Ankle Monitor
Sources:
[1] AutoWise: Los Angeles Woman Arrested for Homicide and Suspected Drunk Driving After Killing 18-year-old California Teen
[2] NBC Los Angeles: Police: Driver Accused of Killing Loyola High School Senior on Suspended License
[3] CBS Los Angeles: Loyola High School Tennis Star Braun Levi Killed in Manhattan Beach; Suspected Drunk Driver Arrested
- The tragic crash that took the life of Loyola High School senior, Braun Levi, occurred in the city of Manhattan Beach, California.
- Prior to the fatal incident, the suspect, Jenia Resha Belt, had been charged with DUI and hit-and-run with property damage in Los Angeles County.
- In the realm of California news, the general public has expressed concern over a rise in car-accidents involving suspected drunk drivers.
- In light of the unfortunate events involving Braun Levi, the discussion on crime and justice, particularly focusing on DUI cases, has gained prominence in California.
