A Beverly Hills teenager has been booked for vehicular manslaughter for the Feb. 17 collision that took the life of 32-year-old Monique Munoz. The 17-year-old teen crashed a Lamborghini SUV into Munoz’s car on Olympic Boulevard and Overland Avenue. Emergency responders declared Munoz dead at the scene. The incident provoked widespread outrage over allegations of speeding and concerns that the teen’s wealthy background would insulate him from prosecution. The case currently sits before the Los Angeles District Attorney, who will decide whether to pursue charges.
“Monique’s death is a giant loss for her family, our community and for all of us as Angelenos,” a representative for the D.A.’s office told the Courier. “This case was recently presented to our office and is under review.” The representative declined to provide additional information, citing confidentiality standards in juvenile court proceedings under California’s Welfare & Institutions Code.
According to a statement released by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the incident took place around 5:10 p.m. when the driver of the black Lamborghini SUV heading east on Olympic collided with a silver, four-door, Lexus negotiating a left turn onto Overland. Images and video from the scene show the mangled wreckage of the Lexus with a deep concave impression in its right flank. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the crash and declared Munoz dead after extracting her from the car. “The male, juvenile driver of the Lamborghini was transported to a local hospital where he was admitted for medical attention,” the statement reads.
The Courier has not identified the driver due to his age and the fact that he has not been charged with a crime.
The 17-year-old was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter on Feb. 23 but has remained in the hospital due to his injuries. In the weeks after the collision, Munoz’s family and their supporters have called on the D.A.’s office to file charges. A protest is scheduled for March 13 at the site of the crash.
The teenager’s father, e-commerce entrepreneur James Khuri, confirmed his family’s involvement in the case in an Instagram post apologizing for the tragedy. “Knowing that this will never do justice for the family of Monique Munoz, I want to apologize to the Munoz family for the tragic loss of their daughter,” Khuri wrote. “There are no words I can say to alleviate the pain that you are experiencing. And I realize none of my words or actions will be able to bring back your daughter.”
The lawyer for Khuri’s family did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Munoz, who worked as a secretary and hoped to attend law school, was described in a GoFundMe campaign as a “beautiful, accomplished woman [who] was the heart and happiness of her family.”
“Her family and friends were her life, she never missed a family gathering or a chance to help a friend and she only had love and kindness in her heart,” said the campaign, which has raised over $43,000 by press time. “We are all in shock and finding it impossible to fathom the reality of her unexpected passing.”
