Families of four Malibu students killed in 'dead man's curve' horror crash sue over 'dangerous' road

The parents of the four Pepperdine University students tragically killed last year on a dangerous stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu are taking legal action against the state and several state bodies.

Last October, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams were tragically struck down by a vehicle whilst walking along the northbound shoulder of a part of PCH known as "Dead Man's Curve" , where they were heading to an occasion.

Tragedy struck when a speeder swerved onto the road's shoulder crashing into three stationary vehicles, one of which then collided with the young women while they stood roadside.

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The four Alpha Phi sorority members were pronounced dead at the crime scene, and another individual got hurt. Authorities nabbed the 22 year old motorist responsible for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence charges.

Almost a full year since the horrific event, parents of the deceased sorority girls, accompanied by the fifth victim who was injured, have launched lawsuits against California State, Caltrans, the California Coastal Commission, Los Angeles County, and the City of Malibu, according to ABC 7.

Lawsuits lodged in Santa Monica Superior Court allege that each named party is liable for the purportedly perilous roadway design of that section of PCH and failing to put crucial safety measures in place.

The plaintiffs' lawyers have issued a stark warning, stating: "For far too long, Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu has been and continues to be unsafe for pedestrians and drivers alike," and adding that "As a result of the defendants' complacency, far too many lives have been needlessly lost."

The legal action is pressing government bodies to "do what they should have done a long time ago so no more lives are needlessly taken," as stated by the joint statement from the plaintiffs' attorneys. They argue that this particular section of PCH has recorded the most car accidents along the 21-mile coastal route, yet no safety measures have been implemented for pedestrians despite longstanding knowledge of the risks.

A sheriff's captain has disclosed that between 2013-23, there were 53 fatalities and 92 severe injuries in the area, and efforts to enhance safety through law enforcement have only yielded limited or short-term effects, the lawsuits claim.

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