Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Investigators: Speed killed Paul Walker






Paul Walker, a star of the "Fast & Furious" movie franchise, died Saturday, November 30, in a car crash, according to his official Facebook page and verified Twitter account. He was 40.Paul Walker, a star of the "Fast & Furious" movie franchise, died Saturday, November 30, in a car crash, according to his official Facebook page and verified Twitter account. He was 40.

Walker, left, and Vin Diesel appear in a scene from "Fast & Furious 6." Walker's role as Brian O'Conner in the franchise helped to make the actor a star.Walker, left, and Vin Diesel appear in a scene from "Fast & Furious 6." Walker's role as Brian O'Conner in the franchise helped to make the actor a star.

Walker and Jordana Brewster appear in "Fast 5."Walker and Jordana Brewster appear in "Fast 5."

Kevin Rankin and Walker appear in "Pawn Shop Chronicles," a film about a missing wedding ring that sets off a wild goose chase.Kevin Rankin and Walker appear in "Pawn Shop Chronicles," a film about a missing wedding ring that sets off a wild goose chase.

Walker also had a starring role in the upcoming film "Hours," which is about a father trying to keep his daughter alive after Hurricane Katrina.Walker also had a starring role in the upcoming film "Hours," which is about a father trying to keep his daughter alive after Hurricane Katrina.

The actor was part of a band of thieves in the movie "Takers."The actor was part of a band of thieves in the movie "Takers."

Walker appears in the action film "Into the Blue," which also starred Jessica Alba.Walker appears in the action film "Into the Blue," which also starred Jessica Alba.

Walker appears in "The Fast and the Furious," the first movie in the franchise. Walker appears in "The Fast and the Furious," the first movie in the franchise.

Walker and Reese Witherspoon in a scene from the film "Pleasantville."Walker and Reese Witherspoon in a scene from the film "Pleasantville."

Walker, center, appeared in "Skulls" with Leslie Bibb and Joshua Jackson in 2000.Walker, center, appeared in "Skulls" with Leslie Bibb and Joshua Jackson in 2000.

Walker and Freddie Prinze Jr. co-starred in the popular film "She's All That."Walker and Freddie Prinze Jr. co-starred in the popular film "She's All That."

Brooklynn Proulx and Walker appear in the film "The Lazarus Project."Brooklynn Proulx and Walker appear in the film "The Lazarus Project."

Walker, left, and Barry Pepper were U.S. Marines in the drama "Flags of Our Fathers."Walker, left, and Barry Pepper were U.S. Marines in the drama "Flags of Our Fathers."

 Tyrese Gibson and Walker appear in "2 Fast 2 Furious." Tyrese Gibson and Walker appear in "2 Fast 2 Furious."








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  • Drugs, alcohol, mechanical trouble, racing were not involved in Paul Walker's crash

  • Walker's Porsche was speeding "between 80 and 93 mph" when it wrecked last year

  • Investigation report clears up lingering questions about the star's death

  • Walker and Roger Rodas wore seat belts and airbags deployed in the Porsche




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 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.


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.


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.


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.


"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 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.


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.


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.



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