In a tragic incident last week in Malibu, California, four Pepperdine University students lost their lives in a vehicular collision along Pacific Coast Highway. The driver, 22-year-old Fraser Bohm, has been charged with four counts of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, saw Bohm’s previous $8 million bail reduced to $4 million as he entered a plea of not guilty.
Bohm, who had initially been released pending further investigation, was arrested once again after the discovery that he was driving at speeds of up to 104 mph in a 45 mph zone, as confirmed by Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon. The students were struck while Bohm was attempting to overtake a parked car, leading to this catastrophic event.
In response to the crash, the city of Malibu is actively exploring measures to enhance safety on the stretch of roadway where the incident occurred. This endeavor includes increasing patrols and advocating for the deployment of speed cameras, a pilot program currently in progress in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Glendale.
The tragedy has also prompted discussion within the Malibu City Council about the possibility of declaring a state of emergency to prevent future collisions. Citing data indicating a high number of fatalities on Pacific Coast Highway over the past four years, Councilmember Bruce Silverstein highlighted the peril posed by excessive speeds in the area.
Source: LAist
