Los Angeles (CNN) — Speed killed “Fast &
Furious” star Paul Walker, according to the investigation of the fiery
car crash that ended the actor’s life last year.
“Investigators determined
the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the
roadway conditions,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Commander Mike Parker
said Tuesday.
the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the
roadway conditions,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Commander Mike Parker
said Tuesday.
The high-performance 2005 Porsche Carrera GT was
going “between 80 and 93 mph at the time the car impacted a power pole
and several trees,” the final report said. The posted speed limit on the
Santa Clarita, California, office park road was 45 mph.
going “between 80 and 93 mph at the time the car impacted a power pole
and several trees,” the final report said. The posted speed limit on the
Santa Clarita, California, office park road was 45 mph.
The sheriff’s conclusion is no surprise, since the coroner’s report previously estimated the car was speeding at 100 mph. But the investigative report does clear up some questions that have lingered about how Walker died.
Walker, 40, and friend Roger Rodas,
38, had no drugs or alcohol in their blood. Both men were wearing seat
belts. The airbags deployed as they should have when the car clipped a
light pole and several trees, investigators said.
Nothing mechanical went
wrong to cause their Porsche to leave the wide road. Investigators found
“no pre-existing conditions that would have caused this collision,” the
report said. Experts from Porsche and Michelin were consulted.
wrong to cause their Porsche to leave the wide road. Investigators found
“no pre-existing conditions that would have caused this collision,” the
report said. Experts from Porsche and Michelin were consulted.
The car did have “an
aftermarket exhaust system” that helped it go faster, the report said.
The tires on the car, which was mostly displayed in a showroom and
rarely driven, were more than nine years old.
aftermarket exhaust system” that helped it go faster, the report said.
The tires on the car, which was mostly displayed in a showroom and
rarely driven, were more than nine years old.
One early theory
— considering the nature of Walker’s movies — that he and Rodas could
have been racing another car was not supported, the report said.
— considering the nature of Walker’s movies — that he and Rodas could
have been racing another car was not supported, the report said.
“No eyewitness contacted
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to say there was a second
vehicle and there is no evidence to indicate there was a second car
involved in the collision,” it said. Video recorded by several security cameras on nearby buildings “helped skilled investigators to determine the cause of the collision and that no speed contest was taking place.”
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to say there was a second
vehicle and there is no evidence to indicate there was a second car
involved in the collision,” it said. Video recorded by several security cameras on nearby buildings “helped skilled investigators to determine the cause of the collision and that no speed contest was taking place.”
The Los Angeles County
coroner’s office released a15-page report in January that concluded the
two men apparently did not live long after the crash.
coroner’s office released a15-page report in January that concluded the
two men apparently did not live long after the crash.
Walker and Rodas, racing team partners, left a charity event
at a car shop co-owned by the men to take a ride in an office park in
the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of
Hollywood. The crash happened a few hundred yards away on a wide street.
at a car shop co-owned by the men to take a ride in an office park in
the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of
Hollywood. The crash happened a few hundred yards away on a wide street.
The autopsy revealed “scant soot” in Walker’s trachea, suggesting his life ended before the smoke and fire engulfed the car.
The actor’s body was
badly burned “and in a pugilistic stance. His right wrist was fractured
and his left arm was fractured,” the report said. Rodas was also
described as in “a pugilistic” — or defensive — position.
badly burned “and in a pugilistic stance. His right wrist was fractured
and his left arm was fractured,” the report said. Rodas was also
described as in “a pugilistic” — or defensive — position.
Walker suffered fractures of his left jawbone, collarbone, pelvis, ribs and spine, the report said.
Rodas “rapidly died of severe blunt head, neck and chest trauma,” the report said.
Walker’s death came
during a Thanksgiving break in filming of “Fast and Furious 7,” forcing a
halt in the production. Universal Studios eventually decided that the movie would be completed using scenes already filmed by Walker, but the release will be delayed from this summer until April 10, 2015. Production resumed in Atlanta this month.
during a Thanksgiving break in filming of “Fast and Furious 7,” forcing a
halt in the production. Universal Studios eventually decided that the movie would be completed using scenes already filmed by Walker, but the release will be delayed from this summer until April 10, 2015. Production resumed in Atlanta this month.
