Unsafe speed determined as cause of Walker’s car accident

The four-month investigation determined that both Walker (left) and Rodas (right) were wearing seatbelts, and driver and passenger airbags had deployed. PHOTO: FILE

LOS ANGELES: 

The tragic car accident that killed Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker on November 30, 2013 was caused by excessive speed and not a mechanical failure, the Los Angeles County Sheriff said on Tuesday, concluding its almost four-month investigation.

The red Porsche Carrera GT sports car driven by Walker’s friend Roger Rodas, 38, was travelling at speeds of 80 to 93 miles per hour (129 to 150 kilometres per hour) before Rodas lost control of the car.

Consequently, the car crashed into trees and a utility pole in Santa Clarita, California, northwest of Los Angeles.

“Investigators determined the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the roadway conditions,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Commander Mike Parker said in a statement.

Walker, 40, died from traumatic injuries and burns while Rodas died of multiple traumatic injuries in the one-car crash, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office determined in January.

Walker was in the process of filming Fast & Furious 7 at the time and production was halted a few days later.

No drugs or alcohol were found in the bodies of Walker and Rodas. The investigation determined that both were wearing seatbelts, and driver and passenger airbags had deployed.

Universal Pictures said in December that the release of the seventh instalment in the highly lucrative franchise would be pushed back by nine months to April 2015. Walker will appear in the film.