A red Ferrari believed to be owned by Charles Lewis, Jr., also known as “Mask”, of the famed MMA apparel company ‘TAPOUT’, was split in half early this morning as it slammed into a light pole that was reportedly knocked into the road by a hit-and-run vehicle. The female passenger in the red Ferrari was taken to the hospital, however the driver, believed to be Lewis, was killed in the accident. PRO MMA (promma.info) will update this story as soon as we can confirm indeed the driver was Charles Lewis, Jr. as is being rumored. The possibility that the driver of the red Ferrari was “Mask” was brought to our attention by sources close to the colorful ‘TAPOUT’ leader.
UPDATE: (2:29pm CST) Sources close to the TAPOUT crew have indeed confirmed that the driver of the red Ferrari was indeed “MASK” (real name, Charles Lewis, Jr.) and that he was killed in the accident. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family and friends of Charles Lewis, Jr. The MMA world and the world in general will definitely be a less colorful place without him. You will be missed “MASK.”
The OC Register has some details on the hit-and-run driver who has been arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the accident. FOX News L.A. has some more information.
This is the initial news report of the crash this morning although the name of the driver was not given at that time.
It does seem more and more that is was Charles. This really a huge loss for the Tapout, and the sport overall. Our prayers and wished go out the the TAPOUT family. Regardless of your personal feeling toward TAPOUT. few people have done more to help push the sport to its current levels.
TMZ and a couple of other places are now saying that it is confirmed…my thoughts and sympathy go out to his fiancee who was critically injured and their families. Without TapouT, many fighters would not be where they are today. Sponsorship money gives many the opportunity to train when they normally wouldn’t be able to afford to.
MY SON WAS SO SAD…. HE JUST HELD HIS PICTURE WITH MASK THIS MORNING… HE WILL BE MISSED AND I KNOW THAT HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE… OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY AND INCLUDING THE TAPOUT CREW….
[…] An inside source close to Mask has verified that the driver was indeed Mask from Tapout. My condolence goes out to his friends and family members. Source: TAPOUT leader believed dead (updated) | […]
the MMA community lost another pioneer today
This is stunning news. We should all learn from this. None of us are promised tomorrow. We all will miss his color, his passion, and his love for the sport of MMA. He was one of a kind, for sure.
fuckin sadd…….i belive