Authorities have arrested a 73-year-old man in connection with a hit-and-run crash in West Hollywood that claimed the life of 26-year-old cyclist Blake Ackerman on July 10, 2025. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Douglas Morton Adams was taken into custody on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, and charged with one felony count of hit-and-run causing death.
The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. at the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Gardner Street, where Ackerman was riding his bicycle westbound. A white, older-model BMW sedan, traveling in the same direction, struck him and fled the scene without stopping to provide aid or identify the driver, as required by law. Ackerman was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Ackerman, a litigation associate at Morgan Lewis, graduated from USC in 2020 and earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in 2023. “Blake was kind, vibrant, and full of limitless potential. He lived well and accomplished so much in his all-too-short years,” the firm said in a statement.
A GoFundMe campaign to support Ackerman’s family, which had raised over $163,000 by Wednesday morning, described him as “a bright light, full of energy, kindness and an unshakable love for those around him.” It added, “Whether he was bringing people together, planning the next snowboard trip, cheering on the Dodgers and the Kings, swimming in the oceans of Hawaii or playing water polo, Blake lived every day to its fullest. He was the heart of his family, an adoring brother and uncle-in-waiting, a devoted son and grandson and an integral part of every community he joined.”
A memorial service for Ackerman was held on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Simi Valley. A ghost bike memorial, organized by Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) and the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition (WeHoBYCO), will be installed on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Fountain Avenue and Gardner Street to honor Ackerman and raise awareness about road safety. A community vigil and rally are planned for Friday, July 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the same location, followed by a march to West Hollywood City Hall.
Adams was held on $50,000 bail and released on bond Tuesday night, with no court date listed. The investigation remains ongoing.
Really relieved to hear they nabbed the bastard.
Why does the GFM site, which is over $166,000 still collect money.
This seems greedy to me.
Granted, I am passing judgment, but without further information, why not?