Roger Rodas and Paul Walker were travelling at approximately 160km/h in Rodas’ Porsche Carrera when they crashed into a light pole and tree before bursting into flames, according to the Los Angeles County coroners office report.
The men left a charity car show and toy drive at their sports car dealership in Valencia, California to take a ride in the high powered car.
Moments later and only a few hundred metres from the event both men perished in the accident.
“For unknown reasons, the driver lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle partially spun around, and began to travel in a southeast direction,” the coroner’s report said.
“The vehicle then struck a sidewalk and the driver’s side of the vehicle struck a tree and then a light post. The force of those collisions caused the vehicle to spin 180 degrees, and it continued to travel in an easterly direction. The passenger side of the vehicle then struck a tree and the vehicle burst into flames.”
The report suggests that both drivers had been killed before the flames engulfed the vehicle.
Both driver and passenger were found in a defensive position, with Walker having a broken jawbone, collarbone, pelvis ribs and spine.
Rodas died very quickly from severe blunt head, neck and chest trauma.
Rodas was a driver in the Pirelli World Challenge, while Walker was known for his role in the popular street racing films ‘The Fast and the Furious’.
Neither Walker, nor the man behind the wheel — his business partner Rodas — had drugs or alcohol in their systems, according to reports.
Two men have been arrested after they allegedly stole part of the Porsche’s wreckage and posted pictures of themselves with the grisly memorabilia on photo sharing site, Instagram.
Jason Witty (18), and Anthony Janow (25), are due for their preliminary hearing on 25 February. The two have pleaded not guilty and could face up to four years and six months in jail if convicted on counts of felony grand theft and destroying evidence.
The release of the latest film in the series, ‘Fast and the Furious 7’, has been delayed until April of 2015, while rewrites are completed by the studio.
– Various online sources.
