Man Files Suit Over Wife’s Traffic Death

A Manhattan Beach man has filed suit against the woman who allegedly was driving under the influence of LSD when her car struck and killed his pregnant wife last month.

Mitch Obele, 30, filed the lawsuit in Torrance Superior Court Monday, charging that Heather Tolles, 19, should have known that she was in no condition to drive before the May 5 accident that killed his pregnant wife, Laura, 26. The fetus she was carrying, due to be born May 26, also was killed.

Police estimated that Tolles was traveling about 50 m.p.h. on Manhattan Beach Boulevard when her car careened through a red light at Highland Avenue and broadsided Laura Obele’s car. Police said there were no skid marks to indicate that Tolles had attempted to stop.

A preliminary hearing in the criminal case against Tolles has been postponed until July 9 in South Bay Municipal Court. Tolles, who remains in custody, faces two counts of murder as well as charges of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs and evading a police officer.