Community mourns 4 Pepperdine students killed in Malibu crash
An emotional prayer service at Pepperdine University on Thursday honored the four students who were killed in a tragic crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu earlier in the week.
Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir, Deslyn Williams, and Peyton Stewart were all seniors at Pepperdine's Seaver College of Liberal Arts, as well as members of the Alpha Phi sorority. They died after being struck Tuesday night by a vehicle in the 21600 block of Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon Road.
On Thursday morning, they were honored at a prayer service held at the university's Firestone Fieldhouse. All Seaver College classes were canceled so students could attend the service.
"Join us as we come together in a spirit of comfort, compassion, and care as we lift up in prayer the families and friends of those we have lost and unite as a community to call upon our loving God for peace and comfort in this difficult time," school officials said in a message sent to the university community.
"President Jim Gash, provost Jay Brewster, and vice president for student affairs Connie Horton will address the community as we immerse ourselves in prayer and scripture to seek God's presence to bring healing to our community," the statement read.
Pepperdine officials also said the campus is offering "spiritual and emotional support, including from the counseling center, from the pastoral care team, and the student care team" for anyone who needs it.
Weir was from Philadelphia. Her mother tells KCAL News she was majoring in English and had just flown back from Philadelphia to Los Angeles the day of the crash.
Rolston was from Los Angeles. She was studying business and planning on working toward a master's degree after graduating in the spring. Her father said she was always "full of life."
Stewart was from New York and studying business.
Williams grew up outside Atlanta and was interested in becoming a veterinarian.
All four women were killed after an out-of-control driver hit them as they were standing of the side of the road on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The driver, 22-year-old Fraser Michael Bohm, was traveling westbound when he lost control and swerved onto the north shoulder of the road. He slammed into three parked vehicles before hitting the four students.
Bohm was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. According to jailhouse records, he was released from custody around 7:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
Investigators say they were still working to determine if Bohm was impaired at the time of the crash.