Authorities have identified Blake Ackerman as the bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run collision on Thursday, July 10, at approximately 9:45 p.m. near the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Gardner Street in West Hollywood. Ackerman, a 27-year-old litigation associate at Morgan Lewis, was riding his bicycle home when a BMW sedan struck him and fled the scene. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Morgan Lewis released a statement mourning the loss of their colleague: “We mourn the tragic and sudden loss of our associate, friend, and Morgan Lewis family member Blake Ackerman, who was killed on July 10 in a hit-and-run accident while bicycling in Los Angeles. Blake was kind, vibrant, and full of limitless potential. He lived well and accomplished so much in his all-too-short years.”
Ackerman, based in the firm’s Century City office, had a distinguished academic and professional background. A 2020 graduate of the University of Southern California, where he served as undergraduate student body vice president, he earned his JD from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 2023. At Loyola, he was a senior articles editor for the Law Review, president of the Surf and Ski Club, and a member of the Jewish Law Students Association. His commitment to social justice was evident early on, as he cofounded a human rights advocacy group focused on prison education and the prison-to-school pipeline during his college years.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Ackerman clerked for Judge Clyde J. Wadsworth of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals from 2023 to 2025 and served as a judicial extern for Judge Autumn D. Spaeth of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2021. Known for his warmth and generosity, Ackerman often greeted colleagues with “aloha” and “mahalo,” reflecting his affection for Hawaii. Shortly before his death, he sought to take on a pro bono case to assist someone in need, a project his firm has pledged to complete in his honor.
“Blake was an exceptional person with a contagious smile and personality—a bright rising star, full of life and positivity,” the Morgan Lewis statement continued. “Our entire Morgan Lewis community is holding Blake and his loved ones in our thoughts and hearts during this incredibly difficult time. We will miss and remember him.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the hit-and-run and seeking information about the driver of the BMW sedan. Anyone with details is urged to contact the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
Donations to Ackerman’s family can be made here:
To donate, visit:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-blake-ackerman
Wondering why the family is requesting $150,000.
To celebrate his life and “ease the financial burden of his mother and sister.”
The GFM for the gentleman who was arrested and deported to Mexico raised around $20,000. This request is up to $143,000.
What a terrible and awful tragedy.
Other than this perp, why do we never get updates or results from other various crimes and missing persons articles that are reported here?
Sad, But riding your bike at 9:45PM anywhere in LA is reckless.
Jeez, Ham. You really enjoy being the fecal matter that annoyingly gets stuck on the bottom of our shoes from those dog owners who fail to pick up their dog’s sh*t.
I concur.
Agreed.
Get a grip, dude. Your comment isn’t necessary, unless you need attention, then it’s just pathetic.
Seriously, this young guy just lost his life due to a hit and run. A family lost their son, a brother and this is your response? Gross.
Absolutely repugnant.
What a stupid comment. So if you don’t own a car you can’t travel?