By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
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The crash record on PCH in Malibu
PCH runs 21 miles through Malibu, and the city does not control it. A 2015 study for the city put it plainly: “As a State Highway, PCH is controlled, maintained, and operated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)” (Malibu PCH Safety Project Report, Jan. 2024). That study, using state crash records and Sheriff’s data, found about 1,000 collisions from 2012 to 2014, including 376 injury collisions and 9 fatal ones.
The Assembly committee analysis for the June 17, 2024 hearing gives the longer view:
- 2,272 people injured or killed on PCH in Malibu from 2012 to 2023, including 49 killed and 209 seriously injured
- 21 of the 49 people killed were pedestrians
- speeding was the primary factor in 25% of all PCH crashes
- Los Angeles County Sheriff data for 2023 showed 93 injury collisions and seven deaths
What changed after the October 2023 crash
On October 17, 2023, four Pepperdine University students, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams, were killed on PCH. The city says they were struck by a speeding driver, and ABC7 reported that the driver allegedly hit several cars parked on the north shoulder (ABC7). Malibu declared a local emergency on November 13, 2023.
The city’s PCH safety page and its January 2024 report list the follow-up work:
- A Caltrans director’s order of about $4.25 million for optical speed bars, speed feedback signs, restriping and new signs from the end of the 10 Freeway to the Ventura County line.
- Signal synchronization for 12 signals between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and John Tyler Drive, so Caltrans can adjust timing in real time.
- A Caltrans PCH Master Plan feasibility study, plus quick-build roundabouts planned for El Matador State Beach and Encinal Canyon Road.
- A two-year city contract, approved January 22, 2024, for a three-officer CHP traffic task force, capped at $2 million.
The Santa Monica Daily Press reported in October 2025 that injury collisions had fallen about 22% since October 2023 and citations had risen 59% from 2023 to 2025, citing CHP and Sheriff’s data.
Speed cameras on PCH
Governor Newsom signed SB 1297, by Sen. Ben Allen, on September 27, 2024 (City of Malibu). The Assembly analysis calls it “nearly identical” to AB 645, the speed camera pilot in Vehicle Code 22425, except that AB 645 covers local streets and SB 1297 covers a state highway.
The city lists five speed camera systems at proposed locations near Decker Canyon, between Guernsey Avenue and Morning View, at Latigo Canyon, between Carbon Beach Terrace and Carbon Canyon, and at Tuna Canyon. Its August 18, 2026 notice set a 60-day warning period starting in late September 2026, with civil fines starting in late November 2026 for drivers going 11 mph or more over the limit. The proposed fines run from $50 to $500, with no license points.
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Who responds, and getting the report
Deputies from the Sheriff’s Lost Hills Malibu station and the city’s CHP task force both patrol PCH, according to the city’s 2024 report and the Santa Monica Daily Press, so either agency may write your report. The officer’s card shows which one. Our guide to getting a police report in California covers the request.
For video, think beyond the speed cameras. The Assembly analysis says SB 1297 makes the cameras’ photos and records confidential and limits their use to the speed program, so do not count on getting those photos. Beach lots, gas stations, restaurants and the cars parked along the shoulder are better places to look. Our Los Angeles traffic camera guide explains how to ask.
Claims against Caltrans for PCH
Many PCH cases are claims against the driver who caused the crash. When the road played a part, such as a missing guardrail or faded striping at a curve, the claim is against the state. It must meet Gov. Code 835: a dangerous condition, a foreseeable risk, and either a state employee’s act or notice in time to fix it. Our page on dangerous road crashes explains what proof looks like.
The claim goes to the Department of General Services (Gov. Code 915) generally within six months (Gov. Code 911.2). If the state sends written notice rejecting it, you have six months from that notice to sue. With no written notice, the limit is two years from the crash (Gov. Code 945.6).
| State | Notice to a state agency | Time to sue |
|---|---|---|
| California | Six months (Gov. Code 911.2) | Six months after written rejection (Gov. Code 945.6) |
| Texas | Six months (CPRC 101.101) | Two years (CPRC 16.003) |
| Washington | Claim, then a 60-day wait (RCW 4.92.110) | Three years (RCW 4.16.080) |
Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou.
What this means for your case
PCH crashes mix fast traffic with people on foot, parked cars and bikes, so fault is often shared. California’s pure comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your share but does not bar it (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). Photograph the curve and any missing barrier the same day, and write down the nearest canyon road or address. Riders hurt on the coast can read about our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers. For freeway crashes elsewhere in the county, see our dangerous freeways FAQ.
Common questions
How many people have died on PCH in Malibu?
The Assembly analysis counted 49 deaths from 2012 to 2023. The city has said it lost 61 lives on PCH to speeding over a decade, a figure it gave in September 2024.
Are the PCH speed cameras issuing tickets?
The city’s August 2026 notice set warnings from late September 2026 and fines from late November 2026. Check the city’s PCH page for the current status.
Who is responsible for PCH in Malibu?
Caltrans controls, maintains and operates it as a state highway. A claim about the road itself goes to the state, not to the City of Malibu.
Can I still sue the driver if I also claim against Caltrans?
Yes. A claim against the state does not stop a lawsuit against the driver. The state claim has its own six-month deadline, so file it while the case against the driver moves forward.
Do I need a police report after a PCH crash?
It helps. The Sheriff or CHP report records the scene, the witnesses and any citation, which is hard to rebuild later. Answers about other Los Angeles roads are collected in our FAQ section. Beverly Law offers a free case review in English or Spanish at (310) 552-6959. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
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Related pages
Sources
- California Assembly Transportation Committee, analysis of SB 1297 (Allen), hearing June 17, 2024 (atrn.assembly.ca.gov)
- City of Malibu, PCH Safety page (malibucity.org)
- City of Malibu, PCH Safety Project Report (Jan. 23, 2024) (malibucity.org)
- City of Malibu, press release on the signing of SB 1297 (Sept. 27, 2024) (malibucity.org)
- ABC7, "Gov. Newsom signs bill authorizing speed cameras on PCH in Malibu" (Sept. 27, 2024) (abc7.com)
- Santa Monica Daily Press, "Malibu marks two years since fatal crash as safety improvements show results" (Oct. 24, 2025) (smdp.com)
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 22425 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 835 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 915 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 945.6 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804 (scocal.stanford.edu)
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- RCW 4.92.110 (app.leg.wa.gov)
- RCW 4.16.080 (app.leg.wa.gov)
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.