Paul Walker: Coroner’s Investigation Could Take 2-3 More Days
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is in the process of comparing dental records on the victims in the crash that claimed the life of “Fast and the Furious” actor Paul Walker and one other person in a solo-car incident in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.
VIDEO: Car on Fire Moments After Fatal Crash
Dana Bee, L.A. County deputy coroner, said on Sunday that his office had made contact with family members and was awaiting dental records to be compared with posthumous X-rays. The two victims were engulfed in flames after the car hit a pole in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop, near a business park complex in the Valencia area of the northern L.A. County city. Bee said it would probably take another 48 to 72 hours for his office to complete the investigation and make a positive identification.
The stretch of Rye Canyon Loop where the accident occurred at around 3:30 p.m. PT has since been reopened to traffic, authorities said. Authorities have only said that speed was a contributing factor in the crash of the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.
SEE ALSO: ‘Fast & Furious’ Co-stars ‘Speechless’ Over Actor’s Death
According to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, the crash occurred not far from Always Evolving Performance Motors, where Walker and the other victim, identified in numerous press reports as his friend Roger Rodas, had business ties. Witnesses to the crash told the Signal that they tried in vain to extinguish the fire. A rep for Walker confirmed that the actor was not behind the wheel but could not confirm the identity of the other victim.
“We all ran around and jumped in cars and grabbed fire extinguishers and immediately went to the vehicle. It was engulfed in flames. There was nothing. They were trapped. Employees, friends of the shop. We tried. We tried. We went through fire extinguishers,” Antonio Holmes, who described himself as a friend of Walker’s, told the Signal.
PHOTOS: Paul Walker’s Hollywood Career
Walker and the other victim were believed to have just left Always Evolving at the time of the crash after taking part in a toy drive and car meet held at the shop on Saturday.
The company’s website could not be accessed Saturday; calls to the shop went directly to voice mail Always Evolving’s Facebook page described the business as specializing in specialty, high-performance and collectible car sales. The Facebook page featured pictures of Saturday’s event followed by numerous posts paying tribute to Walker and “Roger.”
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