Fast and Furious star Paul Walker dies in car crash
Actor Paul Walker, who starred in the Fast And The Furious movie series, has died in a car crash near Los Angeles. He was 40.
Publicist Ame Van Iden says Walker died yesterday afternoon. No further details were released.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said two people were killed in a car crash.
Witnesses told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal that the actor was behind the wheels of a red Porsche. Photos from the scene show a pile of twisted metal and broken windows.
Walker was working on the latest Fast And The Furious film at the time of his death.
He also starred in the suspense drama Hours, a film that is set for release this month.
A statement on the actor's Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend's car, and that Walker was in the area to attend a charity event for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide.
“We ... are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news,” the statement said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia.
“When they arrived, deputies found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and subsequently located two victims inside the vehicle. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
“The cause of the collision is under investigation by traffic investigators with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“The Office of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner will determine the identities and the cause of death of the victims.”
Walker rode the Fast And The Furious franchise to stardom, starring in all but one of the six action blockbusters, beginning with the first film in 2001.
The blond-haired, blue-eyed Los Angeles-native brought California surfer good-looks and an easy, warm charm to the popular street-racing series.
“All of us at Universal are heartbroken,” Universal Pictures said in a statement.
“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.
“We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul’s family.”
