Tapout founder Charles Lewis Jr., known as "Mask" for his signature facial make-up, died this morning in an automobile accident in Newport, Calif., when his red Ferrari crashed into a utility pole.
Lewis Jr. — who founded the popular T-shirt company in 1997 by selling clothing out of the trunk of his car, but made $100 million in sales in 2008 — died at the scene, while a female companion was transported to a nearby medical center and in stable condition.
It is believed a second car, a white Porsche was involved in the accident and traveling at a high rate of speed next to Lewis' car. The driver of that vehicle was arrested on gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
"There were skid marks found at the scene," said Lt. Craig Fox of the Newport Beach Police Department. "It appears there were maybe high rates of speed involved, but they don't know what led up to the collision. The officer (who witnessed the crash) didn't see that. He barely saw the after effects of what appears to be the possible collision."