Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Paul Walker autopsy: Car going over 100 mph when fatal crash occurred; no drugs involved
The Los Angeles County Coroner's office's final autopsy report says that actor Paul Walker's friend Roger Rodas, who was driving at the time, lost control "for unknown reasons" leading to the fatal crash that killed the pair, KPCC media partner NBC4 and other sources report. The car was going over 100 miles per hour at the time.
"Both deaths were ruled to be accidental," says Craig Harvey, operations chief with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.
Rodas and Walker were in a Porsche Carrera GT. The investigation showed that they were driving "at an unsafe speed, approximately 100+ mph," according to the report. The car partially spun, hitting a curb, a tree and a light post, the report states, with the car then spinning around and sending the passenger side into another tree; the car then burst into flames.
Walker died of traumatic injuries from the crash, as well as the subsequent fire, the report states, confirming an earlier autopsy report.
A toxicology report came back negative for both Rodas and Walker, according to the coroner's report.
"Nothing was detected. We tested for alcohol; we tested for cocaine, marijuana, opiates and all of the tests came back negative for both Mr. Walker and Mr. Rodas," Harvey said.