Pepperdine University mourns four students killed in crash

A driver in Malibu on Tuesday night lost control of his speeding BMW on Pacific Coast Highway and crashed into several parked cars before hitting six pedestrians, said officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said four Pepperdine seniors were killed at the scene, and the other two victims were transported to a hospital with injuries. Police arrested Fraser Michael Bohm, 22, on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and released him Wednesday while the investigation continues.

How did Pepperdine respond? The Christian university on Thursday held a day of mourning that began with a prayer service in honor of Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams. Community members gathered for a candlelight vigil later that evening. “God gives us permission to grieve. … Our grief is a measure of our love for our dear, dear loved ones,” Pepperdine President Jim Gash said at the prayer service. The four women were seniors at Pepperdine’s Seaver College of Liberal Arts and members of Alpha Phi sorority. The university posthumously awarded them degrees with the class of 2024. 

Dig deeper: Read Kevin DeYoung’s column in WORLD Opinions about how Christians can respond to tragedy.