PCH Driver Charged With Murder Was Being Chased Before Fatal Crash, Attorney Claims

MALIBU, CA — The driver accused of murder in the death of four women in a Pacific Coast Highway crash last week was driving over 100 mph at the time of the incident, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Wednesday.

While authorities say they currently have no evidence to suggest another motorist was involved, an attorney for the driver, Fraser Michael Bohm, claims Bohm was being chased following a road rage incident immediately before the crash.

Bohm, 22, of Malibu, is charged with four counts each of murder and vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of four Pepperdine University seniors: Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday in a Van Nuys courthouse. His bail — originally set at $8 million Tuesday — was reduced by a judge to $4 million.

"This is exceptionally tragic," Bohm's attorney, Michael Kraut, told reporters outside court. "The family grieves equally with each other over what's going on. I mean, they feel horrible that this has happened. The issue here is whether it's murder or manslaughter or not a crime. That's really what we're here to look at. We have evidence that the sheriff's department did not want to take that clearly shows that there was a road rage incident."

At a news conference following the arraignment, Gascón and investigators pushed back on Kraut's stance, saying he has not provided evidence to support the assertion that another driver was involved.

"He's just providing claims," Gascón said. "He's alleging there are some other intervening causes."

Gascón and investigators said the investigation is ongoing and the evidence gathered so far — including toxicology, speed analysis and execution of search warrants — supported the four counts of murder that Bohm was arrested on Tuesday night. Bohm was previously arrested on the vehicular manslaughter charges last week and had been released.

The murder charges were added due to the speed Bohm was driving at, which Gascón said reflected "the reckless disregard for the safety of others."

The speed limit on the section of PCH where the crash occurred is 45 mph.

• Related: Malibu Officials Outline Steps To Improve PCH Safety After Fatal Crash

Authorities say Bohm was driving westbound on PCH on Oct. 17 around 8:30 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle, swerved toward the north side to PCH and collided with three parked vehicles. Those vehicles hit the four women who were standing on the side of the road.

They died from traumatic injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. Bohm suffered minor injuries, according to deputies.

Should the case go to trial, a jury would be able to render a verdict on both the murder and manslaughter charges, Gascón said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at 818-878-1808.

City News Service contributed to this report.