Ryan E. Bowman of Australia, 34 (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department / November 11, 2010) |
WEST HOLLYWOOD ( KTLA) -- An Australian "Girls Gone Wild" executive has been charged in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 21-year-old woman on Sunset Boulevard.
Ryan Bowman, 34, was booked on suspicion of manslaughter after surrendering Thursday afternoon to deputies at the sheriff's West Hollywood station.
On Monday, prosecutors charged Bowman with leaving the scene of a collision and could face up to four years in state prison if convicted.
However, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison says the investigation continues and he could face other charges.
Authorities say the victim, 21-year-old Lauren Ann Freeman, had just left a concert at the Roxy Theatre around 11:50 p.m. Wednesday when she and a group of friends crossed Sunset Blvd. at Hammond St. to reach a taxi.
Freeman was in a crosswalk when she was struck by a dark-colored Bentley and thrown more than 50 feet.
She died at the scene.
No one else was hurt.
Some witnesses said they thought the traffic light was green for east-west traffic on Sunset Boulevard, but others said it was red, giving pedestrians crossing southbound the right of way.
The vehicle was found along Westmount Drive, west of La Cienega Blvd., several hours later.
Late Thursday, Bowman turned himself in.
"Bowman's attorney contacted us and surrendered client to West Hollywood detectives," said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.
"He invoked his 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination and we booked him on [charges of] vehicular manslaughter."
Whitmore said alcohol "most likely played a role in this tragic event."
Bowman made headlines in Australia in 2007 when he proposed a "booze cruise" for high school graduates.
Bowman was quoted in news stories as saying he planned to set up a cruise off Australia's Gold Coast for those graduating high school, serving alcohol to promote the "Girls Gone Wild" Australia product.
Bowman told an Australian publication he expected "dancing, singing, maybe a bit of nudity, who knows."
Bowman is a director of Zeal Entertainment, which owns the rights to "Girls Gone Wild" for Australia.
The company also has offices in Los Angeles not far from the site of the hit-and-run.
Ryan Bowman, 34, was booked on suspicion of manslaughter after surrendering Thursday afternoon to deputies at the sheriff's West Hollywood station.
On Monday, prosecutors charged Bowman with leaving the scene of a collision and could face up to four years in state prison if convicted.
However, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison says the investigation continues and he could face other charges.
Authorities say the victim, 21-year-old Lauren Ann Freeman, had just left a concert at the Roxy Theatre around 11:50 p.m. Wednesday when she and a group of friends crossed Sunset Blvd. at Hammond St. to reach a taxi.
Freeman was in a crosswalk when she was struck by a dark-colored Bentley and thrown more than 50 feet.
She died at the scene.
No one else was hurt.
Some witnesses said they thought the traffic light was green for east-west traffic on Sunset Boulevard, but others said it was red, giving pedestrians crossing southbound the right of way.
The vehicle was found along Westmount Drive, west of La Cienega Blvd., several hours later.
Late Thursday, Bowman turned himself in.
"Bowman's attorney contacted us and surrendered client to West Hollywood detectives," said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.
"He invoked his 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination and we booked him on [charges of] vehicular manslaughter."
Whitmore said alcohol "most likely played a role in this tragic event."
Bowman made headlines in Australia in 2007 when he proposed a "booze cruise" for high school graduates.
Bowman was quoted in news stories as saying he planned to set up a cruise off Australia's Gold Coast for those graduating high school, serving alcohol to promote the "Girls Gone Wild" Australia product.
Bowman told an Australian publication he expected "dancing, singing, maybe a bit of nudity, who knows."
Bowman is a director of Zeal Entertainment, which owns the rights to "Girls Gone Wild" for Australia.
The company also has offices in Los Angeles not far from the site of the hit-and-run.
