Pepperdine University senior, Bridget Thompson, is speaking out about the tragic loss of her four best friends who were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. If not for a last-minute cheer team meeting, Thompson would have been in the car with her friends, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, heading to an off-campus event.
Thompson received a text from a friend saying her friends couldn’t be found, and she rushed to the scene but was unable to get past the police. She stood vigil outside until 3 a.m., and the next morning, she received confirmation from the school that her friends had died. Thompson described the news as “literally crushed my world,” feeling “four huge holes in my heart.”
This tragedy has prompted Thompson to demand safety changes along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. She organized the dedication of a memorial featuring 58 white tires, representing the lives lost on the road in Malibu since 2010.
Additionally, film producer Michel Shane, who lost his daughter Emily in a similar tragic accident, is working on the documentary “21 Miles in Malibu” to bring awareness and education to the dangers of the PCH. He hopes to change the culture around speed and fast cars, which became glamorized in pop culture.
Despite the continued tragedies on the PCH, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has stated that it is in the middle of a traffic safety study to consider changes to the road, including bike lanes and upgrades to pedestrian access. However, some, like Shane, want more done to slow the highway and discourage speeding.
Thompson and other advocates are hopeful that their efforts will lead to change and prevent further tragedies, but in the meantime, they continue to add white tires to the roadside memorial in honor of the lives lost. The community is coming together to bring awareness and push for changes to save lives on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.