Watch CBS News

Man Makes Bail After Being Charged With Fatal WeHo Hit-And-Run

BEVERLY HILLS (CBS) — Authorities say an executive with a company that bought the Australian "Girls Gone Wild" franchise has been released on bail after being charged in a deadly hit-and-run crash.

Ryan Bowman, an Australian national and Venice resident, was charged Monday with a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident that killed a 21-year-old woman on the Sunset Strip.

 

Bowman, 34, is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 4 in Beverly Hills Superior Court on the charge, which stems from the crash last Wednesday night that killed Lauren Ann Freeman.

Sheriff's deputies said alcohol may have played a factor.

The hit and run happened on Sunset Boulevard, which was closed early Thursday in West Hollywood for a traffic death investigation.

The pedestrian was struck on Sunset at Hammond Street and a section of Sunset was closed, Sgt. Brian Lutz of the sheriff's West Hollywood Station.

The incident occurred just before midnight and 90 minutes later Sunset remained closed between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard, a news video cameraman at the scene reported.

The pedestrian was in a crosswalk when she was struck by a dark vehicle, witnesses told reporters, saying her covered body was on Sunset at Hammond early Thursday.

The woman was trying to cross near the Roxy Theatre, which is on the north side of Sunset just west of Hammond.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.