Man dies in crash

A Costa Mesa man will likely face felony charges today alleging that he contributed to the death of a clothing label’s co-founder in an early morning Newport Beach car crash Wednesday, authorities said.

Newport Beach police arrested Jeffrey Kirby, 51, and his passenger, Lynn Nabozny, 32, about 1 a.m. Wednesday after authorities say the two were seen walking away from Kirby’s white Porsche, only blocks away from a fatal car crash on Jamboree Road.

Police would not rule out speed and alcohol as possible factors that led to the crash.

Just before 1 a.m. police spotted two sports cars, a 2004 red Ferrari 360 Modena, and a white 1977 Porsche 911 Targa, out of control on southbound Jamboree Road between Eastbluff Drive North and Bison Avenue, authorities said.

“Skid marks at the scene indicate they were traveling at a high rate of speed,” Lt. Craig Fox said, adding an officer traveling the opposite way saw the Ferrari, a car worth $150,000 with a V8 engine and top speed of nearly 200 mph, out of control next to the Porsche when it jumped onto the curb and slammed into a light pole, splitting in half and killing the driver.

The front and rear ends of the car were about 30 feet away from each other, Fire Department officials said. Police said Kirby, the Porsche’s driver, stopped briefly, then continued on, Fox said.

Charles “Mask” Lewis, 38, a Huntington Beach man and co-founder of clothing label TapouT, popular among mixed-martial arts fans with annual revenue topping $50 million, was identified as the driver of the Ferrari by a TapouT spokesman.

Representatives from TapouT released this statement:

“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-wishing during this incredibly difficult time. — The TapouT Family.”

The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner has declined to confirm Lewis as the driver until his family could be notified.

Police said Lewis’ car collided with Kirby’s Porsche before losing control. Kirby was booked into Newport Beach jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Court records show Kirby pleaded guilty to a DUI in 2002.

His bail has been doubled to $2 million by authorities at the request of Newport Beach police.

Officers rushing to the area spotted Kirby and Nabozny walking away from the Porsche after they parked it on Bison Avenue, not far from the crash, authorities said.

Nabozny was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication and was released at 7:45 a.m. after sobering up, police said.

The Porsche sustained moderate damage to its side consistent with colliding with the Ferrari before the crash, officials said.

An unidentified female was thrown from Lewis’ car and taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, but her injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.

Reporter JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].