The star of "The Fast and the Furious" movie franchise and another person died in Southern California after the Porsche they were in crashed, his rep confirmed to the Daily News. Walker was attending a charity event in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Los Angeles. "All of us at Universal are heartbroken," Universal Pictures said in a statement.
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Paul Walker, 40, died in a car accident in California on Saturday
afternoon. Here, Walker attends the "Fast & Furious 6" world
premiere in London, England, on May 7.
Actor Paul Walker — a self-styled adrenaline junkie best known for his
role in “The Fast and the Furious” movies — was killed Saturday in a
fiery single-car wreck in Southern California.
The 40-year-old Walker was riding in a red Porsche GT about 3:30 p.m. when the sports car flew off the road and slammed into a tree in Santa Clarita, authorities and witnesses said.
Moments later, the car burst into flames.
“It was engulfed in flames,” said Antonio Holmes, a friend of Walker’s who raced to the scene after hearing about the crash. “There was nothing. They were trapped.”
Holmes said he was among a group of people who showed up at the site
with fire extinguishers and tried to rescue Walker and the driver.
“We tried. We tried,” he told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. “Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart, just decided to joyride, take a spin. Something we all do.”
It was unclear what caused the gruesome accident, authorities said. Coroner Ed Winters said the bodies were so badly burned they would take days to positively identify.
Walker was in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Los Angeles, for a
charity event to benefit his organization Reach Out Worldwide, which
sends first responders to the scenes of natural disasters.
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The event was apparently held at Always Evolving Performance Motors,
located just down the street from where Walker was killed. Both Walker
and the driver, who was identified by people at the shop only as Roger,
were described as “experienced drivers.”
“This was just a tragic accident that happened on a joyride,” Jim Torp, who was at the event, told the paper.
The crash occurred on Rye Canyon Loop, according to the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department. Responding deputies found the vehicle
“engulfed in flames,” authorities said.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze — and then found two victims in the
charred wreckage. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
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“Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon in a car accident,” said his rep, Ame Van Iden.
"All of us at Universal are heartbroken," Universal Pictures, the studio behind "The Fast the Furious" franchise, said in a statement following Walker's death.
"Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our
studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to
everyone involved with the FAST AND FURIOUS films, and to countless
fans."
In a grim twist, Walker’s death came just days after he was the victim of an online death hoax. Several celebs and journalists took to Twitter hoping the new reports were another sick joke.
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His “Fast and Furious” co-stars bared their heartbreak after his death
was confirmed. “Brother, I will miss you very much,” Vin Diesel wrote on
Instagram. “Heaven has gained a new Angel.”
“I am so beyond heartbroken right now,” James Wan, director of “Fast & Furious 7,” wrote on Facebook.
Walker, raised a Mormon in the Los Angeles suburb of Sunland-Tujunga, entered show business when he was just a toddler. He scored roles in popular TV shows, including “Highway to Heaven,” and “Who’s the Boss?” His film career took off after he snagged a supporting role in the 1999 hit “Varsity Blues.”
Walker leaves behind a daughter, Meadow, 15. In his last tweet, on Friday, he posted a photo of him, Diesel and co-star Tyrese Gibson.
“The boys are back,” read the message hyping the release of the seventh in the “Fast and Furious” franchise. “Will you be ready?”
source-.nydailynews
The 40-year-old Walker was riding in a red Porsche GT about 3:30 p.m. when the sports car flew off the road and slammed into a tree in Santa Clarita, authorities and witnesses said.
Dan Watson/Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Firefighters spray water on the wreckage of the Porsche that crashed in Valencia, Calif., on Saturday.
“It was engulfed in flames,” said Antonio Holmes, a friend of Walker’s who raced to the scene after hearing about the crash. “There was nothing. They were trapped.”
Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Paul Walker, who visited "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on May 24, died Saturday in a single car accident in Santa Clarita Saturday.
Paul Walker via Twitter
This photo of Paul Walker in his 2005 film "Into the Blue" was tweeted from his account on May 2, captioned, "PW's 2005 adventure #IntoTheBlue was set in what scenic tropical location? - #TeamPW #tbt"
It was unclear what caused the gruesome accident, authorities said. Coroner Ed Winters said the bodies were so badly burned they would take days to positively identify.
worldstarhiphop.com
A video was taken by someone riding by the scene of the accident in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.
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Chris Weeks/WireImage for Silver Spoon
A Porsche GT like the one Paul Walker was riding in California when he died Saturday.
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
From left to right: Luke Evans, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Gal Gadot, Paul Walker, Justin Lin, Elisa Pataky, Vin Diesel, Gina Carano, Tyrese Gibson and Ssung Kang attend the world premiere of "Fast & Furious 6" in London, England, on May 7.
Universal Pictures
Paul Walker in "2 Fast 2 Furious." The franchise was his most well-known work.
RELATED: MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ ANSWERS SIX ‘FAST & FURIOUS’ QUESTIONS FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS VIVA
Paul Walker via Twitter
This photo, sent out on Nov. 29, was the last tweeted from Paul Walker's account before his death, showing him with co-starts Tyrese Gibson and Vin Diesel: "The boys are back. Will you be ready? - #TeamPW #FastFridays."
"All of us at Universal are heartbroken," Universal Pictures, the studio behind "The Fast the Furious" franchise, said in a statement following Walker's death.
CHRIS WEEKS/AP
"The Fast and the Furious" cast members Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez (left to right) arrive at the world premiere of the film on June 18, 2001, in Los Angeles. The franchise had seven total films.
In a grim twist, Walker’s death came just days after he was the victim of an online death hoax. Several celebs and journalists took to Twitter hoping the new reports were another sick joke.
Forefront Media Group
Paul Walker in "Vehicle 19."
RELATED: ‘FAST & FURIOUS 6’ FEATURES WILDER STUNTS AND CRAZIER VEHICLES
Jaimie Trueblood/Universal Pictures via AP
Paul Walker, as agent Brian O'Conner, leans against his 1998 Nissan Skyline GTR in a scene from "The Fast and the Furious."
“I am so beyond heartbroken right now,” James Wan, director of “Fast & Furious 7,” wrote on Facebook.
Walker, raised a Mormon in the Los Angeles suburb of Sunland-Tujunga, entered show business when he was just a toddler. He scored roles in popular TV shows, including “Highway to Heaven,” and “Who’s the Boss?” His film career took off after he snagged a supporting role in the 1999 hit “Varsity Blues.”
Walker leaves behind a daughter, Meadow, 15. In his last tweet, on Friday, he posted a photo of him, Diesel and co-star Tyrese Gibson.
“The boys are back,” read the message hyping the release of the seventh in the “Fast and Furious” franchise. “Will you be ready?”
source-.nydailynews
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