Coroner: 'Fast and Furious' star Paul Walker's car crashed at 100-plus mph

[News_Editor]

By James Valles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Porsche carrying "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker was speeding at more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour when it crashed near Los Angeles in November, which is more than double the posted speed limit in that area, according to a coroner's report released Friday.

A 15-page case report released by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said Walker, 40, died of the combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries. A second report said the actor's business partner, 38-year-old Roger Rodas, who was driving the vehicle, died of multiple traumatic injuries.

The accident happened on November 30 when the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT they were in slammed into a tree in the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, a city near Los Angeles in Southern California. Patrol deputies who arrived at the scene found the vehicle engulfed in flames, and rescue workers later recovered the men's remains which were burnt beyond recognition.

And while the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has not yet reached a final conclusion as to the cause of the collision, the report released on Friday revealed that the sports car was traveling at more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour in an area where the posted speed limit is 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour.

"For unknown reasons, the driver lost control of his vehicle, and the vehicle partially spun around, and began traveling in a southeast direction. The vehicle then struck a curb, and the driver's side of the vehicle struck a tree and then a light post," investigator Kristy McCracken wrote in the report. "The force of those collisions caused the vehicle to spin 180 degrees and continue in an easterly direction. The passenger side of the vehicle then struck another tree and burst into flames."

The investigator, who noted there were no weather or visibility problems at the time of the accident, said pieces of vehicle debris were scattered across all four lanes and into a nearby parking lot. "The vehicle was totaled with major traffic collision damage all around, and it appeared that the vehicle was almost split in half. The majority of the vehicle was also charred," she said.

Drug and alcohol use was not a contributing factor as neither substance was found in the men, and authorities have ruled the deaths accidental with no charges pending.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Captain Mike Parker said late last month that investigators are scheduled to meet this month with engineers from Porsche to analyze the car's data retrieval system in the car, which is likely to reveal more exact information about speed, RPM's, throttle opening, and air bag deployment.

Earlier, Sergeant Rich Peña had already indicated that the November 30 crash was likely caused by speeding, noting that eyewitnesses reported seeing the Porsche traveling alone at a high rate of speed just before the accident. Additionally, no eyewitnesses have come forward to indicate a second vehicle was involved.

Walker will still appear in the seventh installment of the "Fast & Furious" film franchise, for which production was halted after the actor's sudden death. Producer Vin Diesel announced last month that 'Fast & Furious 7' has been rescheduled to be released on April 10, 2015, nearly a year after the original release date.

When "Fast & Furious 6" arrived in theaters across the United States in May 2013, it immediately shot to the number one position, taking in an estimated $120 million during the three-day Memorial Day weekend in the United States and more than $256 million worldwide. It marked the biggest opening film in the history of Universal Pictures.

(Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)

[F430murci]

Sometimes being respectful and having dignity is more important than trying to be right. I am sure many will demonize Roger and get some sick twisted enjoyment or feeling of moral superiority out of this. The fact remains that Roger was a good person and did more good for people through his charity work and giving than perhaps anyone on this forum. He treated people with dignity and respect and he was well liked. Someone like Paul Walker would not have been so drawn to Roger had he not been genuine and had a huge heart.

Good people make mistakes and have momentary lapses in judgment. We all have. Perhaps most of us have had the good fortune to walk away unscathed or without incident from our lapses. Roger's lapse unfortunately was very costly and very tragic.

I am sure some will still cast judgment and throw stones even if they had no relationship with any imvolved or could have cared less about Paul Walker prior to the accudent. Actung hateful or hollier than though is just some deep seeded need to make it about you. Me, my heart goes out to all involved including Rogers's beautiful wife and young children and I will miss someone I considered a friend and part of a larger racing family.

[bino]

"Drug and alcohol use was not a contributing factor as neither substance was found in the men, and authorities have ruled the deaths accidental with no charges pending."

Who the hell are they going to lay charges against if both men are dead??