Two years after four Pepperdine University students were killed by a speeding motorist on Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu officials gathered Friday to honor their memory while highlighting dramatic safety improvements that have reduced collisions by half.
The Oct. 17 commemoration marked the second anniversary of the deaths of Niamh Rolston, 20; Peyton Stewart, 21; Asha Weir, 21; and Deslyn Williams, 21, who were struck and killed when a BMW traveling over 100 mph lost control and slammed into parked cars, sending them into the students.
"Two years ago, we lost four bright young women whose lives were full of promise," said Malibu Councilmember Doug Stewart at Thursday's press conference. "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."
The tragedy has spurred unprecedented safety measures along the notorious 21-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu, producing measurable results. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department data shows 154 total collisions in 2025 compared to 357 in 2024 — a 50% decline. More significantly, no traffic fatalities have occurred in 2025, compared to two fatal collisions in 2024.
Injury collisions have dropped approximately 22% since the October 2023 tragedy, officials said. The improvements come as enforcement has intensified dramatically, with citations increasing 59% from 2023 to 2025, according to California Highway Patrol and sheriff's data.
"We're thankful to the traffic enforcement officers for their hard work and commitment," said Susan Dueñas, Malibu's public safety director. "They've confirmed issuing more than 6,550 citations in 2024, and 5,100 have been issued to date in 2025."
The most significant upcoming safety measure involves automated speed cameras, authorized by landmark legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2024. Up to 10 cameras will be installed at five high-risk PCH locations, with completion expected in early 2026.
State Sen. Ben Allen, who co-authored the speed camera legislation with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, attended Thursday's event along with law enforcement officials and safety advocates. The cameras represent the first automated speed enforcement system on PCH in Malibu.
Other major improvements include a $34.6 million traffic signal synchronization project completed in September 2025, connecting signals from Topanga Canyon Boulevard to John Tyler Drive. The system, seven years in development, synchronizes traffic lights with real-time conditions and includes plans for changeable message signs and systems that trigger red lights when speeding vehicles are detected.
Short-term infrastructure upgrades totaling $4.2 million have already been implemented, including lane separators to prevent illegal turns, enhanced crosswalk striping, more visible road markings and additional warning signs.
For long-term improvements, Caltrans has launched a PCH Master Plan feasibility study aimed at transforming the highway into a safer main street corridor for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.
The city has also restored California Highway Patrol presence on PCH for the first time since Malibu's incorporation, with a three-officer task force patrolling seven days a week alongside increased Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department patrols.
Michel Shane, whose 13-year-old daughter Emily was killed on PCH 15 years ago, has advocated for safety improvements through his Emily Shane Foundation. "The hardest seat to fill is the one left empty," Shane 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."
Thursday's press conference was followed by a community remembrance at the Ghost Tires Memorial, where family members, friends and officials honored the four students whose deaths galvanized the community's safety efforts.
David Rolston, father of victim Niamh Rolston, praised the ongoing commitment to PCH safety improvements, expressing hope for "a time when no families will have to mourn the death of a loved one on PCH."