(ReliableNews.org) – A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that nearly 43,000 people died from car crashes in 2021, a 10.5% increase from fatalities the previous year. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the numbers a “crisis,” ensuring his department was doing what it could to “reverse [the] devastating trend.” But as long as there are cars on the road, there will be accidents — especially for those who drive recklessly.
On October 17, four college students from Pepperdine University were senselessly killed when one driver traveling at high speed on a road referred to as “dead man’s curve” lost control of his car. A 22-year-old former baseball player was arrested for the crime.
What Happened?
Law & Crime reported that authorities said Fraser Michael Bohm was driving a BMW down Pacific Coast Highway in the early evening when he “lost control” of the car. He “swerved toward the shoulder” where he hit multiple parked cars. Unfortunately, four young women were standing on the other side of those cars: Peyton Stewart, Niamh Rolston, Deslyn Williams, and Asha Weir. They all died at the scene. Video from the crash site appears to show that when police arrived, they gave Bohm a sobriety test. However, there is no report confirming whether or not the young man was drinking. He was arrested under suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. The next day, he was released from custody on bail while detectives continued to investigate the tragedy.
LA County Sheriff’s Capt. Jennifer Seetoo held a press conference asking drivers to slow down on that stretch of highway. She also called for police to increase monitoring in that area and incorporate speed cameras and other technology that could possibly “save lives.”
The Victims
Rolston, Stewart, Weir, and Williams were Alpha Phi sorority sisters studying at the Seaver College of Liberal Arts — a part of Pepperdine University. Two of the women, Rolston and Stewart, were California natives majoring in business at the university. Weir was from Pennsylvania working on her English degree, serving as the executive administrator of their sorority. Williams was from Atlanta. Like her three sisters, she was in her senior year of study.
Pepperdine released a statement about the students’ deaths. University President Jim Gash said his “heart [was] broken” along with every other member of the “Pepperdine family.” Vice President for Student Affairs Connie Horton called for the community to support each other and seek “healing in the midst of this tragedy.” The university was working with each family to determine the best way to honor each of the victims.
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