NEED TO KNOW
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Kolby Aipa died on Aug. 5 after suffering injuries from an e-bike accident on California’s Pacific Coast Highway a few days prior
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The Huntington Beach resident was being towed by a car of people he was associated with before he lost control and was struck by the same vehicle
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Kolby comes from a respected family of surfers as the son of Duke Aipa and grandson of legendary Hawaiian shaper Ben Aipa
Kolby Aipa died on Tuesday, Aug. 5, after sustaining injuries from an e-bike accident. He was 20 years old.
The Huntington Beach resident, who is the son of Duke Aipa and grandson of legendary Hawaiian shaper Ben Aipa, was critically injured after being towed on his electric bike in California on the Saturday before his death.
Kolby was struck on Aug. 2 by the vehicle that was towing him around 10:08 p.m. PT near the intersection of Seapoint Street and Pacific Coast Highway, said Huntington Beach police spokesman Corbin Carson, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The people towing the car were known to Kolby, who lost control of his e-bike and was hit by the same vehicle pulling him, according to Carson.
Kolby was critically injured in the incident and taken to UCI Medical Center.
No arrests were made, but the investigation is ongoing, Carson said.
Kolby is the son of Duke and his wife Val, and has a sister named Sky. His family company, Aipa Surf — a local surf apparel, surfboards and accessories brand — posted an update shortly after the incident on their Instagram page.
“Please everyone pray for our son Kolby. He was in accident and is fighting for his life. Please pray for him to be healed,” read the post.
On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the Aipa Surf Instagram page announced the tragic news of Kolby’s death.
“This is the hardest post we will ever make. We at Aipa Surf, @dukeaipa @valaipa and @leilani_skysky wanted to share the devastating news that our sweet boy @kolby_aipa has passed. We are completely heartbroken 💔,” began the caption.
“We wanted to thank all the visitors, supporters, food deliveries, donations, flowers, cards, countless stories and photos his friends have shared with us, Drs and nurses that have taken care of our sweet boy,” the post continued.
“The HB community and everyone around the world have touched our hearts in an unimaginable way,” the family penned. “Thank you for loving our boy.”
https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf
The caption ended with a heartfelt tribute to Kolby.
“Kolby always had a way with touching the lives of whoever he met. His acts of kindness and caring was his gift of Aloha to friends and strangers alike. To everyone that reads this… pass his Aloha on. So, how Kolby treated you, treat others in that same way,” the post read.
“In this you are continuing his legacy of Aloha. And you too can be like Kolby. Remember him and tell the world that #iamkolby,” the caption concluded.
A GoFundMe was organized by the Pai family, owners of Huntington Surf and Sport, in support of the Aipas. It has raised over $74,000 as of Thursday, Aug. 7.
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Kolby, who was a gifted surfer in his own right, was raised in a Hawaiian family of notable surfers. His grandfather Ben was a Honolulu-born surfer, board shaper and coach who invented the iconic Sting design.
Ben was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also named one of the “Top Ten Shapers of All Time” by Surfing Magazine in 2004.
Read the original article on People
