A somber atmosphere envelopes Malibu following a harrowing accident on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Tuesday night. Four seniors from Pepperdine University, recognized as Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, tragically lost their lives when an out-of-control BMW collided with them as they strolled the iconic thoroughfare.
The 22-year-old driver, Fraser Michael Bohm, was reportedly traveling at high speed around 8:30 p.m. when he lost control of his BMW, sideswiping multiple parked vehicles before crashing into the group of students. Not long before the fateful moment, surveillance cameras from a nearby residence captured footage of Bohm's BMW hurtling down the PCH.
Jim Gash, Pepperdine president, expressed his anguish: "To the students who loved, lived with, and were in community with the departed members of our Pepperdine family, my heart is broken with yours. I join you in your grief as we process this profound loss."
22-year-old Fraser Michael Bohm arrested after 4 Pepperdine University students killed in multi-car crash on PCH in Malibu. Students killed identified as Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams.https://t.co/RZ2TZX4ZLL pic.twitter.com/XxyAl1a5W4 — Fox3 Now (@fox3news) October 19, 2023
Eyewitness accounts stated that after the crash, Bohm emerged from his vehicle unscathed. Bystanders detained him until law enforcement arrived. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department confirmed Bohm's arrest on potential vehicular manslaughter charges due to gross negligence. However, pending further investigation and despite an ongoing DUI probe, Bohm was released Wednesday morning due to insufficient evidence. Pepperdine University's scenic coastal campus, located about four miles south of the accident site, mourns this immense loss. The university has planned a prayer service for 10 a.m. Thursday, with additional memorial arrangements for each student underway. "In the days ahead, we will come together in meaningful ways to honor and celebrate the lives of the remarkable individuals lost to this unthinkable tragedy," Gash affirmed.
LA's ZERO BAIL POLICY is a JOKE. Kill 4 people and get released from jail the next day. This DA for LA County must be voted out. https://t.co/066deqqlJ7 — Grace Chong (@gc22gc) October 19, 2023
Malibu locals are deeply shaken. Rob Daniels, whose home surveillance captured the vehicle moments before the collision, remarked, "This is not the first time" alluding to the dangerous nature of that particular PCH stretch. He emotionally recalled a past incident, though non-fatal, involving a piano teacher outside his home.
Daniels is not alone in his concerns. Jefferson Wagner, Malibu's former mayor, emphasized the urgency for enhanced road safety. "When we became a city, we lost the California Highway Patrol here. It might be nice to see the CHP having more visits out here. That's all we can do, is try and improve and never let this happen again," Wagner stressed.
Chris Hanson, a nearby resident familiar with Bohm, spoke to KTLA, shedding light on the driver's reputation: "Last night was an accident. I don't think it had anything to do with street racing. Obviously, he is at fault from what I understand, but he is a good kid and very well respected in this community."
As the community comes to terms with the tragedy, calls for increased safety measures on the notorious PCH stretch grow louder, hoping to prevent future heartbreaks.
