On the night of October 17, 2023, a tragic event unfolded on Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway, claiming the lives of four senior students from Pepperdine University.
The calamity occurred when a vehicle, operated by 22-year-old Fraser Michael Bohm, veered out of control around 8:30 pm near a notorious stretch known as “Dead Man’s Curve.”
Upon losing control, Bohm’s BMW collided with several stationary vehicles before striking students who were strolling along the highway.
The unfortunate victims were identified by the university as Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, who were all pronounced dead at the scene. Besides the fatalities, two others were injured and necessitated hospitalization, although their conditions have not been disclosed.
Eyewitnesses recounted a scene of disorder following the incident. Bohm, who emerged from his BMW unscathed, was apprehended by nearby individuals until the authorities arrived.
Bohm faced arrest under accusations of vehicular manslaughter stemming from gross negligence but was later released due to insufficient evidence.
The ongoing investigation is scrutinizing various factors including excessive speed and possible distraction from mobile phone use. Preliminary findings have dismissed the involvement of alcohol or drugs in the tragic event.
The ripple effects of the tragedy are profoundly felt across the Pepperdine University community. The institution’s president, Jim Gash, expressed his heartfelt condolences, remarking, “I stand alongside the students who shared bonds of friendship and community with the departed, mourning this unimaginable loss.”
To provide solace, a prayer service was organized on the following Thursday at 10 a.m., offering comfort to the bereaved students and staff.
Additionally, plans are underway for memorial services to commemorate each of the departed students. President Gash emphasized, “In the forthcoming days, we will unite to pay tribute and celebrate the lives of the exceptional individuals we lost to this tragic event.”
