# Paul Walker has Died. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184 "2013-12-01T03:12:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/101 "2013-12-02T16:20:11Z")
RIP…latest news (gossip?) is leaning towards a drag race, perhaps with a bump involved from the other car…CNN says they have an eyewitness to crash. that area of Santa Clarita was know for street racing, the police clamped down a few years back if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/102 "2013-12-02T16:27:00Z")
missed edit…seems like just one car at this point. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/103 "2013-12-02T18:30:14Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I just left the car show he was scheduled to be at today. Another charity gig, this one was toys for tots. > Lots of the cars had stickers a RIP Paul Walker on them. > I say this with all sincerity, I hope both of them were killed instantly as I would not wish death by fire on anyone. > With that said when you go off road with so much velocity that hitting a light pole causes the car to burst into flames you have crossed the line from “had an accident” to actively stupid. That type of speed belongs on a track, and only on a track. I mean what if there had been another car on the road or what if there had been a kid crossing the street? > I suspect when they autopsy the driver they will find blood and guts but no brains. It is too bad his stupidity killed Mr. Walker. Sounds like they died living by your sig… ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/104 "2013-12-02T19:15:09Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Wow. Reading the post I quoted AND the sentence of mine you quoted and you are under the impression I thought Paul Walker was driving? > Wow, just wow. Words fail me. My apologies - my family is less than charitable towards the dead, and are also fond of lauding someone for being a good person AND THEN noting that they are as dumb as a box of rocks, and therefore deserving of what they got. I try not to let my asshole family color my impressions most times, but I was tired and skimming the thread, and had been primed by the snarking and jokes beforehand. No intent to insult - entirely my misread. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/105 "2013-12-02T19:17:51Z")
Never saw any of the F&F movies but he was hilarious in Meet the Deedles. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/106 "2013-12-02T19:21:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Wikipedia says that they started filming in September. So perhaps they can rewrite the movie to kill off his character mid-story. (I’m sure that the production company is thinking about this right now. In fact, I’ll bet that they’ve already had a conference call to discuss it.) On Saturday, I suggested that they might already have had a conference call to discuss this but my timing was a bit off. [The Hollywood Reporter said](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paul-walkers-death-fast-furious-660825) the conference call was on Sunday morning. “Director James Wan and Universal executives held a conference call Sunday morning to discuss the state of the film, whether rewrites would be necessary and how to proceed in a manner that would be respectful to Walker’s death.” They also say that the seventh movie is going forward. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/107 "2013-12-02T19:39:29Z")
One film not yet mentioned is Clint Eastwood’s **Flags of Our Fathers** , where PW played one of the Iwo Jima flag soldiers–a small but memorable & touching role. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/108 "2013-12-02T19:42:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Wikipedia says that they started filming in September. So perhaps they can rewrite the movie to kill off his character mid-story. (I’m sure that the production company is thinking about this right now. In fact, I’ll bet that they’ve already had a conference call to discuss it.) They wouldn’t need to kill the character. I’m fairly certain his character is already married with a kid in the movie, so they’ve got a reasonable excuse for him to drop out of the action. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/109 "2013-12-02T20:14:40Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Or maybe his love for fast cars was partially what got him the part in the F&F series. I haven’t seen the movies: 1. Did any cars in the movies actually go fast–or was it all cinematography to make it appear so? 2. If Paul Walker’s car actually did go fast, did he do the driving or did a stunt driver do it? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/110 "2013-12-02T20:28:09Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I haven’t seen the movies: > > 1. Did any cars in the movies actually go fast–or was it all cinematography to make it appear so? > 2. If Paul Walker’s car actually did go fast, did he do the driving or did a stunt driver do it? Wikipedia says he’s a real life racecar driver, having competed in the Redline Time Attack series. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/111 "2013-12-02T21:10:51Z")
> [@Ionizer](#): > > Just saw an update on the wreck [(here)](http://www.newser.com/story/178485/paul-walkers-mourning-daughter-is-a-fake.html) , and it seems that there is possibly some evidence of mechanical (steering??) failure from maybe fluid(s) leaking just before the skid marks. Just thought I’d throw that out. My gut feeling is waaay-too-fast speed was involved anyways, but that will remain to be seen definitively. I have a real problem with the power steering fluid leak caused the crash theory. I have never in my life seen a car that didn’t have a direct mechanical link from the steering wheel to the steering assembly. If the car were to lose power steering fluid the driver would lose the assist NOT the steering. As a race driver he would be used to driving cars fast without power steering. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/112 "2013-12-02T21:17:27Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I have a real problem with the power steering fluid leak caused the crash theory. I have never in my life seen a car that didn’t have a direct mechanical link from the steering wheel to the steering assembly. If the car were to lose power steering fluid the driver would lose the assist NOT the steering. > As a race driver he would be used to driving cars fast without power steering. I think it’s still plausible. You might be used to driving without power steering, but not on such short notice. It would be like driving an automatic and then BAM! it’s a manual. Even if you know how to drive both, you’re going to need to readjust. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/113 "2013-12-02T21:32:03Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Problem is if you’re a passenger in a car with the driver going too fast for your comfort and you ask him _(or her)_ to slow down and he doesn’t what are your options? Slim and none, surely. That said, and I was taking my own lengthy life experience into account when I wrote that: no one _I_ would count as a _friend of mine_ ever did that to me – nor I them. And truth is in my younger days I was fond of speed myself. Moreover, this guy was apparently not only a friend but also a business partner of Walker’s – and let’s face it, at 40 you are not exactly a kid to be involved in the type of shenanigans that are starting to come out from the investigation. Surely a tragic ending – a life cut short at its very prime. But hardly unpreventable. Perhaps Walker subscribed to the “live fast, die young” school of thought? If so, it’s his 15 y.o. daughter that I am really sorry for. * * * Speaking of his films, I forgot to mention this little black comedy I recently saw him in: [**Pawn Shop Chronicles**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1741243/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3). He was part of an ensemble cast led by Dillon. Well worth a watch IMO. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/114 "2013-12-02T21:36:30Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I think it’s still plausible. You might be used to driving without power steering, but not on such short notice. It would be like driving an automatic and then BAM! it’s a manual. Even if you know how to drive both, you’re going to need to readjust. Would it matter anyway if the guy wasn’t driving like a bat out of hell on city streets full of obstacles _and_ other humans? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/115 "2013-12-02T21:40:17Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Speaking of his films, I forgot to mention this little black comedy I recently saw him in: [**Pawn Shop Chronicles**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1741243/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3). He was part of an ensemble cast led by Dillon. Well worth a watch IMO. I saw that. It’s an odd film. I read somewhere that the writer or director is the same one as for Running Scared, another Paul Walker film and also a little weird. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/116 "2013-12-02T21:50:22Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I think it’s still plausible. You might be used to driving without power steering, but not on such short notice. It would be like driving an automatic and then BAM! it’s a manual. Even if you know how to drive both, you’re going to need to readjust. Over the years I have experienced power steering failures several times. It really isn’t that big a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/117 "2013-12-02T22:04:42Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Would it matter anyway if the guy wasn’t driving like a bat out of hell on city streets full of obstacles _and_ other humans? This is kind of what I was getting at…if speed were ‘reasonable’, then nearly no issue would have been deadly, so to speak. I was just pointing out that it might have been something unexpected happened (mech/steering failure?) and little to no time to adjust to new parameter of control(s) for vehicle’s area of operation, etc. Loss of near-instant steering -\> BOOM -\> deaths. I make no excuses, for sure. Something was wrong there, and excessive speed probably (almost certainly) at the top of the list (afaik). I’ve had “loss of power steering” (and power brakes) from engine quitting in an old Caddy El Dorado at slowish speed on a turn onto an overpass from a frontage road, and just barely grazed the outer guardrail even though I was only going 15-20 tops mph at the time. Time flies fast when stuff fails unexpectedly, unfortunately. My gut tells me that they were going too fast and something unexpected happened. We shall see. Again, not making any excuse, just saying what was found afterwards (allegedly, afaik). Anyone that drives as if something WILL happen at any time will get those onboard will get to where they are going, more often than not anyways. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/118 "2013-12-02T22:48:47Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > Stuff like this is somewhat job related, and I like reading about fatal accidents and their cause as it helps me figure out what we can do to stop others. > > It can be a little gruesome, though. ☹ Yeah, that’s an understandable attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/119 "2013-12-02T23:39:54Z")
You can(kind of) see the explosion and how quickly the smoke billowed out on a security video TMZ has. I’ll break the link if you think it is NSFW. It is very hard to see any part of the crash, though. http: [//www.tmz.com/videos/0\_oehej0ek/](https://www.tmz.com/videos/0_oehej0ek/) ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184/120 "2013-12-03T01:07:26Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > On the crash pics my dad is a forestor and he believes there is no way a tree of thickness could have withstood that apparent impact without breaking, I wonder what the exact sequence of events were and what shape the car was in before it hit the tree. Perhaps most of the pictures show further damage down by rescue services after the initial impact _(trying to cut what was left of the occupants out for example)_. I expect that the main damage was caused by the pole, and what was left of the car simply settled up against the tree – it was a minor secondary impact. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-walker-has-died/675184.md?page=7)