It has been nine years since Paul Walker died a tragic death. The late actor was leaving a charity event with his friend, Roger Rodas – who was driving a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. Rodas was driving more than 100 mph down Hercules Street in Valencia when they suddenly crashed into a concrete lamp post.
Within moments, the car was engulfed in flames as both men were burned beyond recognition – the autopsy report suggests that Walker was alive after the crash, citing the ‘combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries’ as the causes of death. Rodas, on the other hand, died of multiple traumatic injuries.
That was on November 30, 2013 – nine years ago later last week. Jim Thorp, who was at the charity event, spoke to Paul Walker right before he hopped in the Porsche Carrera GT with Rodas. According to Thorp, Walker’s last words were ‘Let’s go for a drive!’ Little did they know it would be the last drive of his life.
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On Wednesday, social media was blowing up in support of Paul Walker on the nine-year anniversary of his tragic death. One of the most touching tributes came from his daughter, Meadow Walker, who was just 15 years old when she learned of the crash. Now 24 years old, Meadow calls her father her ‘angel.’
“9 years without you. I love you so much my angel,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing an old photo of her father teaching her how to bowl. She also wrote ‘I love you daddy’ in an Instagram story. Meadow got married last year and while Paul Walker wasn’t there to walk her down the aisle, Vin Diesel was.
Meadow Walker wasn’t the only one honoring her father on Wednesday. Jordana Brewster, who played Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise, also took to Instagram to pay tribute. She shared two beautiful photos that were sent to her by one of the on-set photographers just a few days after Paul’s passing.
“They capture Paul’s playfulness, openness, and joy. When he passed 9 years ago I couldn’t reconcile why and how someone so full of life could be taken so suddenly. The best I can do to honor his legacy is to be present, to love, and to do good. To spread the joy as only Paul could,” she captioned the photos.
More Friends and Fans Honor Paul Walker on Wednesday
Every year, thousands of people take to social media to pay tribute to one of the greatest actors of the 2010s – let’s be honest, the Fast & Furious series is a classic. One of his co-stars in the film, Vin Diesel, shared a photo on Instagram of the two on set – “Nine years… love you and miss you,” he captioned it.
On social media, fans everywhere were posting photos of the late actor as they reminisced about what could’ve been. For those that don’t remember, Paul Walker was in the middle of filming Furious 7. After learning of his death, Universal Pictures immediately halted any and all production until further notice.
Walker was nominated for two MTV Movie Awards, winning both of them in 2002 and 2014. He was also nominated for four Teen Choice Awards, winning one of them in 2015. He was never married, but had a daughter with Rebecca Soteros in 1998 and was dating Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell at the time of his death.
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In an interview with Page Six earlier this month, Meadow Walker revealed that she watches her dad’s films to remind herself of his voice. “They always say the first thing you forget about someone is their voice, so I’m fortunate enough to have his voice in many movies,” she told the outlet.