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Paul Walker's Daughter Sues Porsche Over His Deadly Crash
Paul Walker (Getty)
The daughter of Paul Walker filed a lawsuit against Porsche, claiming that the sports car he rode in when he was killed in a crash two years ago had major design flaws.
In the suit, Meadow Walker, 16, alleges that the German car manufacturer took safety shortcuts with the powerful Porsche Carrera GT—while marketing it as a race car licensed for the road, reports the L.A. Times. The complaint also argues that Porsche knew the car in which the Fast and Furious star rode, had a history of instability, but didn't add a control system to address those issues. The company also allegedly installed the seat belts in such a way that when the car fractured in the crash, the shoulder portion of the seat belt pulled away with the rear engine compartment, making the seat belt pull him back and trap him in the passenger seat.
"This snapped Walker's torso back with thousands of pounds of force, thereby breaking his ribs and pelvis, flattening his seat and trapping him in a supine position, where he remained alive until the vehicle erupted into flames one minute and 20 seconds later," alleges the suit.
The suit also argues that the company installed side door reinforcements that are weaker than most cars. It also says that a fuel hose in the car lacked proper fittings and tore open, leading to a fire after the crash.
While investigators have attributed the cause of the crash to high speeds at the hands of driver Roger Rodas and not mechanical problems, the lawsuit says that the car was traveling 63 to 71 mph when it lost control.
The suit names Porsche Cars North America and Beverly Hills Porsche as defendants, but comments from either have not been released at this time.
Meadow Walker is the actor's only child and sole heir to his estate.
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"She's a teenage girl who is still dealing with the tragic loss of her father," Meadow's attorney, Jeff Milam, said in a statement. "The bottom line is that the Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car. It doesn't belong on the street."
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