‘Fast and Furious’ actor Paul Walker and friend Roger Rodas were driving more than 100 mph in a Porsche Carrera GT supercar when Rodas lost control, causing a fiery crash that killed both men, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office reported Friday.
The crash happened in Valencia, when the two took the Porsche out for a drive following a charity event. Rodas was behind the wheel when the car spun out of control, hitting a light pole and a tree before bursting into flames on Hercules Street at Kelly Johnson Parkway in an industrial park.
The coroner’s report also details the injuries of both men. Rodas died of multiple traumatic injuries sustained in the collision and Walker died of a combination of traumatic injuries from the impact of the collision and injuries sustained in the subsequent fire.
Walker suffered a broken jaw, collar bone, elbow, several broken ribs, a broken pelvis and a spinal fracture. There were traces of soot in his trachea, meaning that he was briefly still alive when the fire started, but the report indicates that both men died within seconds of impact.
Rodas suffered multiple blunt traumatic injuries during the crash, including a broken jaw, skull fractures, broken ribs and pelvis fractures.
Both bodies were so severely burned that they could not be identified visually. According to the police report, the rare Porsche was “almost split it half.”
Both men tested negative for any alcohol or drugs and the coroner’s office has ruled the collision an accident. The final cause of the collision has not been determined by sheriff’s investigators with the Santa Clarita station, who are investigating, but they have said since the day of the accident that speed played a role.
Also Friday, two men pleaded not guilty in connection with the theft of a piece of the Porsche Walker and Rodas were in when they died.
Anthony Janow, 25, and Jameson Witty, 18, appeared in a San Fernando courtroom to answer to one felony count each of grand theft of personal property and two misdemeanor counts each of destroying evidence and resisting, obstructing and delaying a peace officer.
Investigators allege the pair followed the tow truck taking the remains of the Porsche to a sheriff’s impound yard following the crash.
While it was stopped at a red light, the pair allegedly took a T-top panel of the car’s roof. A photo of the car piece was later posted on an Instagram account in Witty’s name. The photo has since been removed, and a the account was later made private.
According to the district attorney’s office, Witty and Janow were told prior to the theft by a sheriff’s deputy that they could not take any part of the car.
If convicted, the men each face a maximum sentence of four years and six months in county jail.
