A tragic incident occurred in Malibu, California, a year and a half ago, where a 23-year-old man named Fraser Bohm was involved in a crash that resulted in the deaths of four Pepperdine students. Bohm was allegedly speeding between 93 and 104 mph in a 45 mph zone on October 17, 2023, when he crashed on Pacific Coast Highway, according to prosecutors who analyzed his BMW’s “black box.”
The four victims, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, were all sorority sisters and lost their lives in the crash. The accident took place around 8:30 p.m. at a section of the Pacific Coast Highway known as “Dead Man’s Curve” when Bohm hit three parked cars.
Witnesses provided conflicting testimonies regarding Bohm’s driving behavior before the crash. Bohm’s attorney, Michael Kraut, emphasized that his client’s speed was around 70 mph, not as high as reported, and that external factors like road rage incidents contributed to the tragic event.
Kraut highlighted that one witness admitted to chasing Bohm in a road rage incident, which may have influenced the crash. He also mentioned that there was a video showing another driver shining lights into Bohm’s eyes, causing him to swerve, ultimately leading to the collision.
The legal proceedings have been challenging for both the victims’ families and Bohm’s family. While acknowledging the severity of the situation, Kraut emphasized the importance of holding Bohm accountable for his actions based on the evidence presented, rather than automatically assuming the highest level of criminal responsibility.
The case is set to proceed to trial, with Bohm’s arraignment scheduled for July 1. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has been contacted for further comments on the matter.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the importance of road safety for all individuals. Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.
