Los Angeles prosecutors have charged Fraser Bohm, the only child of a wealthy family, with speeding in a BMW that struck and killed four female students walking on the side of the road.
Los Angeles prosecutors have charged Fraser Bohm, 22, with murder and operating a vehicle causing death in the crash that killed four female students at Pepperdine University’s Seaver College of the Arts in Malibu, California.
According to the indictment for manslaughter and attempted murder, Bohm was driving at 100 mph in a 45 mph zone on the Pacific Coast Highway. On a “death curve” where fatal accidents frequently occur, Bohm lost control of his BMW, crashed into three parked cars and then hit a group of female students walking on the side of the road.
The four victims, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams, all 20-21 years old, died at the scene of the crash. Bohm was arrested shortly thereafter.
After the crash, Bohm admitted to texting while driving. Prosecutor Nathan Bartos said Bohm knew the area was home to many homes and businesses, but he drove at twice the speed limit.
Bohm’s attorney, Michael Kraut, explained that his client was texting while stopped at a sign-posted intersection. At that point, another driver yelled at him, causing Bohm to speed up and lose control.
The attorney claimed that Bohm was only driving 70 mph at the time of the crash, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and had no history of traffic violations. Kraut wanted to reduce the bail, but Judge Diego Edber called the case “extremely serious” and set Bohm’s bail at $4 million.
The attorney continued to argue that the money could have been given to the victim’s family for funeral expenses. Judge Edber says he will review bail
US media said Bohm was a “rich kid”, born into a wealthy family and living in an $8.7 million mansion in Malibu, but his parents were divorced.
The BMW that caused the accident was a gift to Bohm for his 18th birthday. The Bohm family also owns a $700,000 vacation home in Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley.