Malibu community honors Pepperdine students killed on PCH in 2023 by a speeding driver

On October 17, 2023, four Pepperdine University seniors — Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams — were struck and killed by a speeding driver on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu while walking along PCH after parking their car.

On Friday, October 17, 2025, two years after the disaster, a crowd of residents, family members and officials gathered on PCH to honor the four students. Malibu Councilmember Doug Stewart commented on the impact of the tragedy, and the progress on PCH safety measures since then.

“Two years ago, we lost four bright young women whose lives were full of promise,” Stewart said. “Their loss changed our community forever, and it also became a turning point. Since that day, Malibu has been united in one purpose: to make PCH safer for everyone. We’ve made real progress, but we’re not done. Every improvement, every law, and every enforcement effort honors their memory by preventing future tragedies.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said, “Today we remember Niamh, Peyton, Asha, and Deslyn, four young women whose lives were taken far too soon. … Every life lost to traffic violence is one too many, and every empty chair reminds us what is at stake. Making Pacific Coast Highway safer is a community-wide effort, and I am committed to doing this work together.”

Michel Shane, creator of The Empty Chair Club road safety campaign and co-founder of the Emily Shane Foundation, has advocated for PCH safety since his daughter Emily, 13, was killed on PCH 15 years ago. “The hardest seat to fill is the one left empty,” he said. “Two years after losing Niamh, Peyton, Asha, and Deslyn, this highway continues to claim lives. Their memory deserves more than our sadness — it demands action.”

Since their deaths, several changes have been made. Among them is Senate Bill 1297, authored by state Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, that allows automated speed camera systems on PCH.