# Charles "Mask" Lewis of TapouT dies **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 12, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charles-mask-lewis-of-tapout-dies/489231 "2009-03-12T18:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charles-mask-lewis-of-tapout-dies/489231/1 "2009-03-12T18:07:12Z")
Very, very sad news last night. “Mask” was killed in a car accident. > [@](#): > > According to reports by Newport Beach injury lawyers, a Newport Police officer witnessed the accident that took the life of Charles “Mask” Lewis. > > The officer that saw the crash stated he witnessed a red Ferrari and a white Porsche both spinning out of control on Jamboree Road in the vicinity of Bison Avenue and East Bluff Drive at approximately 1: 00 a.m. Spokesman for the Newport Police Department Lt. Craig Fox stated the Farrari struck the curb and then struck a pole. The Farrari had been damaged in a way that it was split in half according to Lt. Fox. > > Charles “Mask” Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, he was the co-founder of the mixed-martial-arts apparel company TapouT, which also sponsors fighters. [Charles “Mask” Lewis Killed in Newport](http://caraccidentlawsuits.blogspot.com/2009/03/charles-mask-lewis-killed-in-newport.html) Like a lot of people, I kind of thought the TapouT crew and their crazy getups were hokey as hell at first. Their schtick had a purpose, though; they were tired of getting ignored at fights while trying to promote their company and decided to make characters to attract attention. It paid off, and he and his friends built their little project into a muiltimillion dollar company. He was by all accounts a nice guy and a friend to the sport, and he will be missed. Mods, I wasn’t sure where this should go; since it relates to MMA I thought it might belong here. Apologies if it needs to be moved. ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charles-mask-lewis-of-tapout-dies/489231/2 "2009-03-12T18:48:57Z")
The wreck itself was brutal. Not sure how the passenger even survived. I don’t follow MMA much so first few times I came across these guys I was like WTF? Is this turning into pro wrestling? But I guess, yeah, they did work hard to create a business. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charles-mask-lewis-of-tapout-dies/489231/3 "2009-03-13T21:37:01Z")
Just read that the driver of the Porsche has at least one previous DUI and they detail that he evidently caused the accident (lost control of his car and hit the Ferrari). Two hours after arrest he blew 0.13. Yet another drinking & driving idiot who should have been given a very stiff penalty a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charles-mask-lewis-of-tapout-dies/489231/4 "2009-03-14T03:19:07Z")
I live here, and it is being widely reported locally that they were racing, and probably both drunk. For what it’s worth… possibly another drinking and driving idiot who died trying to be a show-off asshole in his $300K Ferrari… ☹