Porsche blames ‘Fast and Furious’ star Paul Walker for his death in crash

Attorneys for Porsche say “The Fast and the Furious” actor Paul Walker knew the risks of riding in a 2005 Carrera GT and conducted himself in a manner that ultimately led to his death in a fiery car crash two years ago.

Porsche’s lawyers in court documents filed Thursday said Walker was to blame for his own death. Walker, 40, was sitting in the passenger seat of his friend Roger Rodas’ 2005 Porsche Carrera GT when they crashed on Nov. 30, 2013. Rodas, who was behind the wheel, was traveling 90 mph before it slammed into trees and a concrete street light in Santa Clarita, killing the pair.

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“Mr. Walker’s death, and all other injuries or damages claimed, were the result of Mr. Walker’s own comparative fault,” Porsche’s attorneys said in court documents.

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Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies work near the crash scene in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop on Nov. 30.   (Dan Watson / Associated Press)

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Rafael Lopez of Santa Clarita places a sign at a memorial at the site where actor Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas were killed in a car crash Nov. 30, 2013.

  (Christina House / For The Times)

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Fans including Ivon Barron of South Gate, left, visit the memorial to Paul Walker, whose early death in a car crash is similar to that of James Dean more than 50 years ago.   (Christina House / For The Times)

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The smell of the burned Porsche still lingered in the air Sunday morning as fans set up a makeshift memorial at the crash site on Hercules Street, near Kelly Johnson Parkway, in Santa Clarita.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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“Fast and Furious” memorabilia was placed alongside candles and flowers.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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The fiery crash left charred trees in the secluded area near a business park.   (Ryan Fonseca / Associated Press)

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The four-lane road up the hilly street has signs warning drivers to slow down as they approach an uphill curve near the site of the accident.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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At the time of his death, Walker, who also starred in “Pleasantville” and “Varsity Blues,” was working on the seventh film of the “Fast and Furious” franchise.  (David Buchan / Getty Images)

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Joel Perez, 23, another fan who gathered at the site Sunday, said Walker’s “gone but he’ll never be forgotten because there are so many people that look up to him.”  (David Buchan / Getty Images)

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Speed may have been a factor in the crash, which occurred about 3:30 p.m. Saturday on a normally quiet road with a 45-mph speed limit, authorities said.  (Dan Watson / Associated Press)

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Officials say it could take some time before investigators know how fast a Porsche was traveling when it crashed in Santa Clarita on Saturday, killing “Fast & Furious” actor Paul Walker and another man.  (Dan Watson / Associated Press)

According to Porsche, the Carrera was misused and improperly maintained. Walker, the automaker said, was “a knowledgeable and sophisticated user” of the sports car.

Porsche’s response comes nearly two months after the actor’s daughter, Meadow Walker, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the German car company.

Her attorney Jeff Milam, said Porsche was deflecting its responsibility by blaming Walker for his death. He said Porsche’s Carrera GT was not designed to protect its occupants in a crash, even at speeds below its advertised capabilities.

“If Porsche had designed the car to include proper safety features, Paul would have survived, he would be filming ‘Fast and Furious 8,’ and Meadow Walker would have the father she adored.”

Meadow Walker’s lawsuit alleges that Porsche took safety shortcuts while building the Carrera GT, which it marketed as a race car with a 605-horsepower engine capable of up to 205 mph.

According to the lawsuit, Porsche knew the car had a history of instability but failed to add a control system to address that issue.

After consulting with Porsche technicians, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol, investigators concluded that unsafe speed was responsible for the crash, not mechanical problems.

Walker died of traumatic injuries and burns within seconds of the crash, according to the L.A. County coroner’s office. Rodas, 38, was killed on impact.

Staff writer Corina Knoll contributed to this report.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA

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