Fraser Bohm is suspected of exceeding the speed limit on the Pacific Coast Highway’s “Dead Man’s Curve” before colliding with the four Pepperdine University seniors.
Four Pepperdine University students died in a BMW crash last week in Malibu, California. The 22-year-old driver of the car that crashed has been charged with murder.
On the 17th of October, Fraser Bohm is accused of speeding around the “Dead Man’s Curve” section of the Pacific Coast Highway, when he reportedly collided with Peyton Stewart, 21, Niamh Rolston, 20, Asha Weir, 21, and Deslyn Williams, 21. Bohm was charged with four charges of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter, according to court documents. He was first released from custody as investigators looked into the car crash, but on Tuesday he was taken into custody.
Bohm entered a not-guilty not guilty to all counts on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, and is being held without posting a $4 million bond.
“Tragic Malibu Halloween Party Crash: College Students’ Lives Cut Short, Driver Faces Serious Charges”
According to The Malibu Times, the students were outside at a Halloween party when the incident occurred at 9 p.m.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. Jennifer Seetoo said during a news conference last week that Bohm “lost control of his vehicle” and drove onto the shoulder, crashing with three parked automobiles and striking the women.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Bohm was arrested on an allegation of gross vehicular manslaughter but was quickly released to give detectives time to gather further evidence. The sheriff’s office stated in a statement last week that “these kinds of traffic inspections are very serious, and there are various detective factors that are involved.” “Our detectives diligently gathered all the evidence required to bring the highest charges permitted by California law,” the statement reads.
According to KABC-TV in Los Angeles, Bohm stated during his arraignment on Wednesday that he was speeding in an attempt to escape someone who was pursuing him violently.
“Pepperdine University Mourns Tragic Loss of Students and Honors Their Legacy with Posthumous Degrees”
The institution expressed its sorrow over the students’ passing in a statement released last week, noting how much the community loved them. The statement went on, saying, “In the midst of terrible tragedy, we join together as a community at large and turn to our religion and each other to find healing and optimism in this time of incredible grief and sorrow.” “We really mourn the unmet goals and dreams of our priceless community members, and we appreciate each individual gift and spirit that every student who left their college brought with them.”
The four students were seniors at the university’s Seaver College of Liberal Arts and members of the sorority Alpha Phi, according to a different article on Wednesday that featured the individuals.
According to the school, they will get posthumous degrees along with the 2024 graduating class. Members of the family have been grieving for the four women in recent days, and Stewart’s father has asked that those who would have liked to send flowers or presents instead make a donation to a tribute fund established for the victims.