Actor Paul Walker of "The Fast and the Furious" series of street racing films was one of two people killed today in a single-vehicle crash and fire in Valencia, according to a variety of sources.
The crash in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop near Kelly Johnson Parkway was reported about 3:30 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Kim Manatt said.
Arriving deputies found the vehicle engulfed in flames, she said.
Los Angeles County firefighters extinguished the fire and found two victims inside the vehicle who were pronounced dead at the scene, Manatt said.
TMZ first reported that Walker, 40, who starred in the 2001 film "The Fast and the Furious" as well as several sequels, died in the crash.
The news was confirmed on Walker's Facebook page, which included a statement that the actor was a passenger in a friend's car when the crash happened.
"It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide. He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives," the statement said.
TMZ reported that Walker was in a Porsche GT that hit a tree or post and caught fire.
Manatt said the victims would be identified by the county coroner's office.
"Fast & Furious 7"—starring Walker, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson—was in the process of filming with a 2014 release expected, according to IMDB.
Walker—who grew up in the San Fernando Valley—was the father of a 15-year-old daughter, according to his Wikipedia profile.
Universal Pictures, the studio behind the Fast and Furious franchise, issued a statement saying, "All of us at Universal are heartbroken. Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast and Furious films, and to countless fans. We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul's family."
By City News Service
No comments:
Post a Comment