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Tapout founder killed in high-speed crash

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Investigators work on the front half of a red Ferrari that crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach, Calif.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — A $300,000 Ferrari collided with a Porsche, crashed and broke in half on an Orange County roadway Saturday, killing one person and injuring another, police said. The driver of the Porsche was later arrested.

The martial arts clothing company TapouT confirmed that co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis died in the car wreck shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday in Newport Beach. Police say the Ferrari apparently collided with a Porsche and spun out of control.

Lewis was a co-founder of the company and was known for signature facepaint stripes on his face. The firm says in a statement that a memorial is being planned.

The two cars were speeding north on Jamboree Road in this wealthy city when the crash occurred shortly before 1 a.m., Lt. Craig Fox said.

A patrol officer saw the red 2004 Ferrari Modena and a white 1977 Porsche coupe swerve out of control, Craig said.

"We believe they were going fast based on the skids and the damage to the vehicle," Fox told KABC-TV. "But we can't speculate at this point if they were racing or not."

"Apparently they had collided and this was the aftermath of the collision," Fox said.

The Ferrari hit a curb, then knocked over a light pole and broke in half, Fox said.

A woman was thrown from the car and was hospitalized for a broken arm and other injuries, Fox said. There was no immediate word on her condition.

The Porsche was later spotted on another street and a couple who were seen walking away from it were arrested, Fox said.

Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa, was booked for investigation of alcohol-related gross vehicular manslaughter and remained jailed on $1 million bail, Fox said. He could not immediately be reached for comment because his home number was unlisted and it was not immediately clear whether he was represented by an attorney.

The woman, Lynn Marie Nabozny, 32, of Newport Beach, was arrested for investigation of public intoxication and released, Fox said. There were no telephone listings for Nabozny.

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