On March 7, 2007, Ali Boulala was driving a motorcycle with his fellow Flip Skateboards team member, Shane Cross. Neither rider were wearing safety helmets, and were both under the influence of alcohol during the ride. According to reports, Boulala and Cross were enjoying a night of drinking and debauchery at The Cherry Bar in Melbourne, Australia, when they decided to get on the bike, ride around their hotel two or three times, before crashing into a wall at around 30 km/h.