Porsche Sued for 'Defects' After Crash Killed Paul Walker and Friend
Porsche is facing a lawsuit filed by the widow of the man that was driving the Porsche Carrera GT that crashed and killed Paul Walker last November.
Kristine M. Rodas claims that the design of the 2005 sports car was flawed and caused both her husband, Roger Rodas, and Walker to die in the fiery crash that took place in Los Angeles. The wrongful death suit points out that Rodas was driving at 55 mph at the time of the crash- not an unsafe speed as law enforcement investigators determined, when the car is capable of going over 200 mph.
Moreover, Mrs. Rodas says that the vehicle was not installed with a proper crash cage and lacked safety features in the gas tank that would have saved both men's lives. She also contends that the vehicle's suspension system forced it to careen out of control and strike three trees before it burst into flames on Nov. 30.
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"The Carrera GT was unsafe for its intended use by reason of defects in its manufacture, design, component and constituents, so that is would not safely serve its purposes," the lawsuit states, according to the Associated Press. Rodas is seeking an unspecified amount in damages from Porsche Cars North America. The lawsuit could take years to resolve with several different opinions expected to be voiced in court.
Meanwhile, Rodas' and Walker's deaths left many shocked, especially since Walker was in the midst of filming "The Fast and the Furious 7." Both men died at the scene of the crash, and according to the Los Angeles County coroner's report, Walker likely died before smoke and flames engulfed the car since "scant soot" was found in his trachea. However, the actor's body was found "charred and in a pugilistic (defensive) stance."
"His right wrist was fractured and his left arm was fractured," the report said, according to CNN.
Walker also suffered fractures to his left jawbone, collarbone, pelvis, ribs and spine. Alternately, Rodas "rapidly died of severe blunt head, neck and chest trauma," according to the coroner. The driver's "major head trauma" included the "top portion of his skull fractured and his brain exposed."
