by AMBER KELLY Photographer
Paul Walker, a well-known American actor, died at the age 40 in a brutal car accident on Saturday, November 30 in Santa Clarita, California.
Before the accident, Walker had been attending an event for his charity, Reach Out Worldwide, an event that focused on raising money for victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Walker left with his friend, race car driver Roger Rodas, and it was Rodas who was driving the Porsche when they crashed into a light pole and tree.
The Porsche, after striking the light pole at a speed that is still unknown, burst into flames, with Walker and Rodas dying in the crash. Police officers who arrived at the scene believe that speed had been a factor in the crash, as the speed limit on Hercules Street is 45 mph. The Porsche was so impacted, it is deduced that Rodas had been driving well over the speed limit.
Officers are also considering the possibility that another car had been involved, and that Rodas and Walker had been street racing. Although they are investigating this idea, as of now, officers are saying there is no evidence to suggest that this was the case.
When looking at pictures of the accident, the Porsche looks more like scrap metal than an actual car. The only identifiable piece of the car is one of the tires, while the rest of the Porsche’s body is completely disfigured.
Many find this accident not only tragic, but also grimly ironic. Walker had been most famous for his character Brian O’Conner in the “Fast & Furious” franchise. In these movies, Walker played a street racer, and with him dying in a severe car crash, people cannot help but note the irony.
“I really liked Paul Walker, I thought he was a good actor. It is kind of ironic that he died in a car accident because of the character he played in “Fast & Furious”; it’s just really sad. He was only 40; that’s too young to die. He would’ve had a really successful future,” says senior Jeena Patel.
Paul Walker began acting and modeling as a toddler. In the 1990s, he acted in some shows and movies, including “The Young and the Restless”, “Pleasantville”, “Varsity Blues”, and “She’s All That”. However, as most people know, his breakthrough role came around in 2001, when he starred in “The Fast and the Furious”.
Before his death, Walker had been filming “Fast and Furious 7”, which was expected to release in July 2014.
Walker, although not married, leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter named Meadow Walker, who had only begun to live with her father in 2011.
“It’s really sad that he’s leaving behind a daughter, especially since she’d only lived with him for about two years. I saw on the news the media asking Paul Walker’s dad questions and it was really upsetting. You could tell how horrible all of this is for his father. It was an unexpected death, and it was really emotional when his dad said how good it was that he told him he loved him every day,” says senior Jessica McDonald.
Family, friends, and fans mourn the loss of Walker, and all agree that he will be dearly missed.
What will you remember most about actor Paul Walker?