Tragedy Strikes: Speeding BMW Claims Lives of Four Pepperdine University Seniors in Malibu

Late Tuesday night on a perilous section of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, a speeding BMW was involved in a horrific accident, leading to the untimely demise of four Pepperdine University seniors. The incident, which left the community in shock, has prompted an outpouring of condolences and sorrow.

The victims have been identified as Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, all students at the Seaver College School of the Arts within Pepperdine University.

In response to the tragedy, Pepperdine's President, Jim Gash, expressed his condolences, saying, "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."

Authorities from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department held a press conference to provide details about the incident. At approximately 8:30 p.m., a 22-year-old named Fraser Michael Bohm lost control of his dark-colored BMW while traveling westbound on the Pacific Coast Highway. The vehicle veered onto the shoulder, colliding with three parked cars, which, in turn, struck the four students, resulting in their tragic deaths.

Bohm has been arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and is currently awaiting the outcome of the investigation. Additionally, a DUI probe is underway. Fortunately, Bohm sustained only minor injuries in the crash.

The accident occurred on a notorious stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway known as "Dead Man’s Curve," approximately four miles north of the Pepperdine campus.

Niamh Rolston, a business major from Los Angeles, was set to graduate in 2024. Peyton Stewart, who served as the vice president of finance at Alpha Phi, was also pursuing a degree in business. Asha Weir, hailing from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, held the role of executive administrator at Alpha Phi and was studying English.

Information regarding Deslyn Williams's professional profile is not available at this time. According to reports, the four students were sorority sisters, with three of them being roommates.

The Pepperdine community is left grappling with the sudden loss of these promising lives. President Gash reflected, "Indeed, one of the greatest mysteries of life is when and why our time on this earth is cut short. In such times, we hold firm to our faith in the God who sustains and nourishes us even when—and especially when—we experience life’s most significant losses."

This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for caution and responsibility on the road, and it has left a profound impact on Pepperdine University and the community at large.