On the morning of July 16, a white-painted ghost bike was placed at Fountain Avenue & Gardner Street, marking the site where Blake Ackerman was fatally struck in a hit‑and‑run on July 10 — a tragedy that has shaken the local community.
Blake, a 26-year-old litigation associate with Morgan Lewis, was cycling home around 9:45 p.m. when a white BMW sedan hit him from behind and fled the scene. He was rushed to Cedars‑Sinai but succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward.
In addition to the memorial bike installation held at 9 a.m. yesterday, a public vigil and rally is scheduled for Friday, July 18 at 6 p.m. at the same intersection. Attendees will march to West Hollywood City Hall to voice their demand for safer streets.
Blake was remembered by colleagues and friends as kind, ambitious, and driven — a 2020 USC graduate who pursued a law career, filled leadership roles, and co-founded a prison-reform advocacy group. His firm praised his “contagious smile” and commitment to justice. A GoFundMe campaign has since raised nearly $160,000 to support his mother and sister.
The incident, part of a troubling pattern of hit‑and‑runs on dangerous stretches like Fountain Avenue, underscores the urgent need for traffic safety improvements. Advocates say it’s time to move beyond temporary fixes and prioritize protected bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly designs.
Event Details
Ghost Bike installation: Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 9 a.m., Fountain Ave at Gardner St (private ceremony)
Vigil & March: Friday, July 18, 2025, at 6 p.m., at the same intersection, followed by march to City Hall
Why the Ghost Bike Matters
Ghost bikes serve as solemn, stationary reminders of lives lost to traffic violence. Here, Blake’s memorial honors his legacy and calls on city leaders to finally act—before the next preventable tragedy happens.
A fitting memorial.
Ah, WeHo, the creative city.