Paul Walker Death: Officials Rule Out Mechanical Problems With Porsche
The investigation into actor Paul Walker’s death has led authorities to conclude there were no mechanical problems with the Porsche he and friend Roger Rodas were killed in.
Moreover, the examination of the scene of the accident reveals there was no debris or objects on the road that would have caused the vehicle to crash into a light pole and tree.
An official close to the investigation, who spoke anonymously as he is not authorized to reveal details of the ongoing probe, said police are looking at speed as the main cause of the crash.
“We’re looking at speed and speed alone,” the law enforcement official told the Associated Press.
The fatal crash that killed Paul Walker on November 30 left Hollywood and especially the popular Fast And Furious franchise fans’ in shock at the loss of one of its main stars.
Roger Rodas, 38, and Paul Walker co-owned an auto racing team, and Rodas had competed in 10 Pirelli World Challenge GTS races this year.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has recovered three black boxes from the badly mangled car, which burst into flames upon impact.
Investigators have also determined the approximate speed the car was traveling at the time of the crash, but will not release it until Porsche engineers arrive in California next month to help decipher the data.
Speed is calculated through a formula that uses factors such as the arc of tire marks from the scene and how well the tires would grip the roadway, said Chris Kauderer, chairman of the California Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists.
Immediately following the accident, police suspected speed was a factor in the crash that left Paul Walker and his friend dead. Nothing further was added in the statement on Wednesday.
The car Paul Walker died in was a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, which experts say is notoriously difficult to handle.
Last photo of Paul Walker before his death. #RIPPaulWalker #TeamPW Fast & Furious won’t be the same pic.twitter.com/loCas6mo6e @RealPaulWalker
— RIP Paul Walker (@rippaulwalker) December 19, 2013
If the data contained in the boxes recovered is usable, investigators will be able to determine the speed the car was traveling, whether seat belts were fastened, air bags deployed, and if Rodas hit the brakes before impact.
Investigators into Paul Walker’s deadly accident are also working with the California Highway Patrol accident reconstruction specialists, who examined the brakes and established that at least one of the tires was made in 2004.
“They were well out of the curve when they lost control,” an official told the AP.
Paul Walker was 40-years-old at the time of his death and was scheduled to resume filming Fast And Furious 7 this month. No details have been released by Universal Studios about the future of the film, only that it will go on as a tribute to the late star.
