Actor Paul Walker, best known for
his role in the Fast & Furious action movies, has died in a car crash after
his friend lost control of a Porsche GT which smashed into a pole and a tree.
The high-powered super-car, which
was being driven by Roger Rodas, burst into flames after it crashed in Santa
Clarita, north of Los Angeles, at 3:30pm on Saturday.
Walker, 40, who appeared in five
of the six films about illegal street racing and heists, had been at an event
for his charity Reach Out Worldwide before deciding to take the car, a
cherry-red Porsche Carrer, out for a drive with his friend.
The fundraiser, to benefit victims
of Typhoon Haiyan, had been taking place in a race car shop near the scene of
the crash.
Guests rushed to put out the
flames with fire extinguishers but the fireball had already engulfed the car.
The driver of the car has been
identified as former race car driver Roger Rodas, 38, who was also Walker's
financial adviser.
The pair were friends and had been
racing for several years before they began collaborating on Walker's finances.
Rodas had helped Walker establish
his Reach Out Worldwide charity, after creating his own foundation to support
widows and orphans in his native El Salvador.
Rodas was also the CEO of Always
Evolving, the car customization shop where Saturday's charity event had been
taking place.
The star's representatives and
official Facebook page have confirmed his death.
Ame Van Iden, Walker's publicist,
said in an email: 'Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon
in a car accident.'
The actor's official Facebook page
was also updated with the message: 'It is with a truly heavy heart that we must
confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while
attending a charity event for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide.
'He was a passenger in a friend's
car, in which both lost their lives.
'We appreciate your patience as we
too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news
No comments:
Post a Comment