NEWS ALERT: PAUL WALKER STAA WA FILAMU YA FAST AND FURIOUS 6 AFARIKI DUNIA KATIKA AJALI YA GARI
According
to the statement put out by Walker's team and also posted on Facebook,
the actor was "attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out
Worldwide. He was a passenger in a friend's car.
"We
appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond
belief by this news," the statement continued. "Thank you for keeping
his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time.
We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences."
The
identity of the second victim, a male, has not been released by
authorities; but numerous reports have identified the driver as Roger
Rodas, the owner of Walker's auto-racing team, Always Evolving.
“Him
and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart, just decided to joyride,
take a spin," Antonio Holmes, an onlooker at the event who identified
himself as a friend of Walker's, told the local Santa Clarita Valley
Signal newspaper. "Something we all do. We're all car enthusiasts. ...
We’re all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must’ve needed
help."
According
to witnesses, the red Porsche carrying Walker and his friend lost
control and slammed into a tree and then a light pole. Walker, an
unapologetic car lover, had been participating in the "Winter Drive" for
Reach Out Worldwide, a toy drive and car meet charity event for
disadvantaged children. Walker was also involved in humanitarian efforts
in Chile and Haiti after the devastating earthquakes in both countries.
Earlier,
the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and county coroner confirmed that
two people were pronounced dead at the scene of a crash in Santa
Clarita, north of Los Angeles, around 3:30 p.m. PT.
"When
they arrived, deputies found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The Los
Angeles County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and
subsequently located two victims inside the vehicle," Sheriff's Deputy
Kim Manatt said in a statement. "The victims were pronounced dead at the
scene. The cause of the collision is under investigation."
The
tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob was a California native,
hailing from the L.A. suburb of Glendale. He began appearing in TV
commercials when he was just a toddler. He guest starred on shows like
"Highway to Heaven" and "Charles in Charge" as a teen, and scored his
first leading role in 1998's "Meet the Deedles." This lead to higher
profile roles in features like "Pleasantville," "Varsity Blues," and
"She's All That" in the late '90s before cementing his status as a
leading man in 2001's "The Fast and the Furious."
Walker
starred in all but the third installment of the "Fast & Furious"
movies, including the seventh chapter which is still in production and
scheduled for release next summer. He also received critical acclaim for
his performances in 2006's "Running Scared" and in Clint Eastwood's
WWII drama, "Flags of Our Fathers." His next film, "Hours," about the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is scheduled to open on Dec. 13.
"Fast"
running mate Vin Diesel posted an image of him and Walker on
Instagram with the caption: "Brother I will miss you very much. I am
absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace."
Likewise, fellow franchise star Chris "Ludacris" Bridges grieved the loss of his friend.
In a
brief statement, Universal, the studio behind the "Fast" franchise, also
mourned one of its top stars: "All of us at Universal are heartbroken.
Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our
studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to
everyone involved with the 'Fast and Furious' films, and to countless
fans. We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul's
family."
Walker is survived by his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.
—Additional reporting by Taryn Ryder
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