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New Report Concludes Paul Walker's Deadly Car Crash Caused By 'Unsafe' Speed, Not Mechanical Problems
Paul Walker (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
A new report today revealed that the cause behind Paul Walker's fiery crash was caused by "unsafe" speed, not mechanical failure of the car.
Some had speculated that the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that 40-year-old Walker's friend Roger Rodas, 38, was driving that tragic night in Santa Clarita on Nov. 30, 2013 had a mechanical failure. However, the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. released a statement confirming that the vehicle that took both of their lives had hit 80 to 93 mph when it crashed into a power pole and trees before bursting into flames.
"Investigators determined the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the roadway conditions," Commander Mike Parker, North (County) Patrol Division, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said in the statement.
Back in December, a law enforcement source told the AP that "speed and speed alone" was the reason behind the collision. However, the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. released a statement at the time that there was no conclusion yet and they needed time to investigate the case further. The L.A. County Coroner's office reported in January that the two had driven up to 100 mph, but the final report today revealed it was about 10 to 20 mph lower.
During the mechanical investigation, officials found that there weren't any pre-existing conditions with the car that would have caused the crash. In addition, Parker said there was an "aftermarket exhaust system" that had been installed in the Porsche and that the tires were more than nine years old.
Walker and Rodas had multiple injuries and their bodies were burned beyond recognition. The L.A. County Coroner's autopsy report showed that Walker also suffered multiple fractures to his pelvic area, jaw, collarbone, ribs and upper arm.
Alcohol and drugs weren't a factor in their death, and Walker and Rodas both had their seatbelts on and the airbags deployed when they crashed, according to the release.
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The L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. will be holding a press conference about the results of their report today at 5 p.m. in Monterey Park.
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