A California man’s plea to dismiss murder charges stemming from a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of four college students has been denied. Fraser Bohm, aged 24, faces four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence following the fatal incident in October 2023.

The crash resulted in the deaths of Pepperdine University students Niamh Rolston, 20, Peyton Stewart, 21, Asha Weir, 21, and Deslyn Williams, 21. At the time of the accident, Bohm was 22, and allegedly exceeded the speed limit by driving 59 mph in a 45 mph zone on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road known as “Dead Man’s Curve,” as reported by MyNewsLA.com.

The incident occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, where Bohm reportedly lost control of his BMW and collided with three parked cars. These vehicles then struck the four students, who were walking on the shoulder after exiting another vehicle, leading to their deaths at the scene.

Bohm’s defense team contends that he was fleeing from a “road rage incident” that unfolded around 8:30 p.m. on October 17, 2023, prompting his high-speed escape from another motorist. Lawyers Alan Jackson, Kelly Quinn, and Jacqueline Sparagna argued in their motion to dismiss the charges that the prosecution’s case lacks legal foundation, stating, “This absence alone should be fatal to the People’s case.”

According to KABC, local ABC affiliate, the other driver involved, Victor Calandra, has also hired legal representation. In court, Calandra’s attorney dismissed the notion that his client was pursuing Bohm as “ludicrous.” Prosecutors have suggested that Calandra may be called to testify against Bohm, providing evidence of the latter’s alleged reckless driving.

Prosecutors countered in their opposition to the motion that “the defendant drove 59 miles per hour over the [45 mph] speed limit on what is essentially a residential street,” and “[t]here is no excuse which can justify the danger he posed at those speeds, certainly not trying to flee possible road rage, a contention for which there was no evidence, nor did the defendant ever mention it to deputies.”

As Law&Crime previously reported, Bohm was rearrested on Oct. 24, 2023, after his initial arrest on the night of the crash. He posted $4 million bail after being charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. His original bail was set at $8 million and was later reduced. A request to reduce his bail a second time was denied, and Bohm’s family reportedly drained their finances to get him released, according to The Malibu Times.

In Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, Judge Thomas Rubinson denied the defense’s motion to dismiss the murder charges. Bohm is scheduled to appear in court again in January, when the judge is expected to announce a date to put Bohm on trial.

Rolston, Stewart, Weir, and Williams were sorority sisters and college seniors who were expected to graduate in 2024. Pepperdine University honored them with posthumous degrees.