Paul Walker from "The Fast & the Furious" dead at 40 in car crash

[Trixie]

She received 10 million from the driver's estate...

And a smart plaintiff's lawyer will go after every defendant possible.

[MohandasKGanja]

Does it matter if he was able to get out of the car or not? I know it's a big assumption, but assuming he was still alive after the crash and IF the car hadn't burst into flames, he could have survived--well, it seems that's their theory anyway, that the design defect caused the car to explode on impact. Doesn't anyone remember the Ford Pinto?

At some velocity, any car filled with gas will become a fireball on impact.

Car and Driver's review of the car made it very clear that this car would be a death trap on a city street. Siince these two were car enthusiasts, they knew what they were getting into by driving this at high speed on a city street.

[sluce]

Thank God their irresponsible actions did not kill anyone else.

[Novice]

ITA unless they prove that there was a defect that prevented Paul from getting out of the car prior to being burned to death - AND - prove he was not already dead from the crash...

Am I the only one that thought "soot in breathing passages"?

I think it hit the light pole first and then some trees. I think the pole impact on Walker's (passenger) side was what penetrated the gas tank - with the result being that he was covered in gas from the tank that had been punctured. Then, something inside the car ignited the gas.

Other stats I read:

The car costs about $450,000

The gas tank alone costs $15,000

Top speed is about 208 mph

Gets about 9 mpg highway

24-gallon tank - that's a lot of gas for a small car

Costs $900 just to change the oil

But most important of all, no electronic stability control to help correct bad moves by the driver.

Not if it's doing 3 mpg or similar - this model is basically a "Road legal" racing car.

Ok, so 9mph....


Fuel consumption for 2004 model
EPA Rated city, highway in mpg: 9 mpg-US (26 L/100 km; 11 mpg-imp)/15 mpg-US (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg-imp)[9]
Range: 241 miles (388 km)[9]
Tank in gal: 24.3 US gal (92 L; 20 imp gal)[8]

[Charmed Hour]

Am I the only one that thought "soot in breathing passages"?

The autopsy report called it "scant soot"- he didn't breathe much in prior to his death. He had severe injuries outside of the fire. Multiple broken bones including fractures to both his forearms indicating he braced himself for impact. Something you just shouldn't do. The driver seemingly died on impact from massive brain trauma- it was exposed and no soot was in his trachea.

[MohandasKGanja]

Did they ever come up with an estimation on how fast they were going?

[OrangeSlice]

I keep coming in here hoping for hot Vin Diesel pictures. Cmon y'all.

Crash sounds horrific. At least death was quick.

[Trixie]

The autopsy report called it "scant soot"- he didn't breathe much in prior to his death. He had severe injuries outside of the fire. Multiple broken bones including fractures to both his forearms indicating he braced himself for impact. Something you just shouldn't do. The driver seemingly died on impact from massive brain trauma- it was exposed and no soot was in his trachea.

Doesn't that support their claim that he might have survived if he hadn't burned to death? Unless I'm missing something.

[mostroop]

I took scant soot to mean that maybe he took 1 or 2 breaths after impact. He didn't survive long after the fact, just a dying breath.

[Novice]

Poor daughter knowing that everyone knows that.
Actually after the day I've had (crazy-dog-rescue people) it just adds to the general feeling of wanting to cry.

[NoNoRehab]

The LA Sheriff's Dept. determined they were going 93 mph at the time of the crash. The widow of the driver tried to claim they were "only" going 55 but I guess the court didn't buy that.