A businessman from Australia was held behind bars Friday on suspicion of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a 21-year-old Hollywood woman on the Sunset Strip.
Accompanied by his lawyer, 34-year-old Ryan Mathew Bowman surrendered Thursday afternoon at the sheriff's West Hollywood Station and was booked at 4:15 p.m., according to sheriff's inmate records.
Bowman was held early Friday at the sheriff's West Hollywood Station, a Los Angeles County jailer said in a telephone interview.
Lauren Ann Freeman was fatally struck around 11:50 p.m. Wednesday as she tried to cross Sunset Boulevard at Hammond Street, according to Sgt. Brian Lutz of the sheriff's West Hollywood station.
Alcohol was believed to be involved in the crash, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.
Witnesses at the scene said Freeman was in a crosswalk ahead of a group of friends, when she was struck by a dark vehicle and thrown about 50 feet. Freeman had apparently been at a concert at the Roxy Theatre.
"We've found debris from the front end of a gray- to black-colored Bentley at the scene," Sgt. Chris Tatar told City News Service.
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A charcoal-gray Bentley with front-end damage was later found parked near La Cienega Boulevard and Melrose Avenue.
"This is a tragedy for everyone involved," West Hollywood sheriff's station Capt. Kelley Fraser said. "Our hearts go out to the grieving family of Lauren Freeman."
Bowman's bail was set at $100,000. He has a court appearance scheduled in Beverly Hills on Monday, according to inmate records.
Anyone with information about the fatal crash was asked to call the sheriff's West Hollywood station at 310-855-8850.
