Paul Walker dead in fiery car wreck: Actor, 40, killed after Porsche GT driven by his friend crashed into pole
Walker, 40, who was in five of the six films about illegal street racing and heists, was attending a charity event, according to a message linked to his Twitter account.
The star's representatives and official Facebook page confirmed his death yesterday.
The high-powered super-car spun out of control in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, at 3:30pm.
Deputies arriving at the scene found the vehicle engulfed in flames.
The LA County Sheriff's department has confirmed two people died in the collision but no names have been released.
However Ame Van Iden, Walker's publicist, said in an email: 'Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon in a car accident.'
The actor's official Facebook page read: 'It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.
'He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives.
'We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.
'Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences. - #TeamPW.'
Walker, who leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter, was an investor in the Always Evolving auto shop in Valencia, California and was in the area for a car show to support the Philippines typhoon relief effort.
While at the event, Walker and a friend decided to take a Porsche GT out for a spin before the driver is believed to have lost control and spun into the light pole.
Witnesses at the crash scene posted video of the site on YouTube showing debris from the crash and emergency workers cordoning off the area.
Photographs from the scene show a burnt out shell of a car.
Friends of the star told a local newspaper that they 'went through fire extinguishers' in a futile bid to fight the blaze that engulfed the car after the crash.
'We all ran around and jumped in cars and grabbed fire extinguishers and immediately went to the vehicle. It was engulfed in flames. There was nothing.
'They were trapped. Employees, friends of the shop. We tried. We tried.' Antonio Holmes told the Santa Clarita Signal.
Horror crash: First responders gather evidence near the wreckage of a Porsche sports car that crashed into a light pole on Hercules Street near Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia on Saturday, November 30, killing actor Paul Walker
Engulfed: This witness photo shows the Porsche completely consumed by flames after hitting a pole
Desperate: Bystanders desperately tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but the fire was too strong
Horror crash: First responders gather evidence
near the wreckage of a Porsche sports car that crashed into a light pole
on Hercules Street near Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia on Saturday,
November 30, killing actor Paul Walker
Engulfed: This witness photo shows the Porsche
completely consumed by flames after the driver lost control, hitting a
pole and killing himself and Paul Walker
Desperate: Bystanders desperately tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but the fire was too strong
Friends at the scene said Walker and his friend were taking the Porsche out for a joyride.Mr Holmes said: 'Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart just decided to joyride, take a spin. Something we all do. We’re all car enthusiasts...
'We’re all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must’ve needed help.
'When we saw Paul and Roger leave, Paul was the passenger in the vehicle. They both were experienced drivers.
'This was just a tragic accident that happened on a joyride,' said witness Jim Torp of Santa Clarita.
Crash site: Sheriff deputies work near the
wreckage of the Porsche sports car that crashed into a pole on Hercules
Street near Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia on Saturday
Comments
Post a Comment