LOS ANGELES (AP) — While the neighborhood where "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker died in a fiery crash is known to attract street racers, law enforcement officials do not believe the Porsche he and a friend were riding in had been racing another car.
Accident
investigators "have received eyewitness statements that the car
involved was traveling alone at a high rate of speed," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a written statement Monday. "No eyewitness has contacted the (department) to say there was a second vehicle."
Walker and his friend and fellow fast-car enthusiast Roger Rodas died Saturday when Rodas' 2005 Porsche Carrera GT smashed into a light pole and tree, then exploded in flames. The posted limit was 45 mph.
The
two had taken what was expected to be a brief drive away from a charity
fundraiser and toy drive at Rodas' custom car shop in the Southern
California community of Valencia, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Walker's publicist said the action star was the passenger.
The
crash happened on a street that forms an approximately 1-mile loop amid
industrial office parks. It is rimmed by hills and relatively isolated
from traffic, especially on weekends when the businesses are closed.
"It's well-known out here that that's a hot spot for street racers," California Highway Patrol Sgt. Rick Miler said.
Skid
marks are a testament to past antics on the loop. The sheriff's
department, which polices the neighborhood, said Saturday's wreck was
not the first speed-related crash there, but would not reveal specifics.
Meanwhile,
investigators are consulting video from security cameras, talking to
eyewitnesses and analyzing physical evidence such as on-board computer
data from the Porsche.
A steady stream of fans has flocked to the crash site to leave flowers, candles and memorabilia from the action films.
On
Monday night, a private memorial for survivors and the cast and crew of
the "Fast & Furious" movies was held there inside a white tent
erected around the crash site. When it was over, Walker's co-star Vin
Diesel emerged to thank fans for paying their respect to the actor.
"Thank you for coming and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciated him," Diesel said.
Officials
have not named either person found in the car. The bodies were so badly
burned by the fire that engulfed the wreck that dental records will be
needed to confirm their identities.
Walker and Rodas had bonded over their shared love of fast cars.
Rodas,
38, and Walker, 40, co-owned an auto racing team named after Rodas'
shop, Always Evolving. Rodas was a financial adviser as well as a
professional driver who competed in 10 Pirelli World Challenge GTS races
in 2013. He finished second in rookie of the year standings, circuit
spokesman Dave Drimmie said.
Walker
starred in all but one of the six "Fast & Furious" blockbusters. He
had been on break from shooting the latest installment; Universal
Pictures has not said what it plans to do with "Fast & Furious 7,"
currently slated for a July release.
