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Paul Walker’s Family, Friends Hold Vigil At Santa Clarita Crash Site

VIDEO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA COCCA | NBCLA.COM

The Santa Clarita crash site of Paul Walker of “Fast and the Furious” fame was cordoned off by Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies Monday night, as friends and family members held a small, private vigil to honor the life of the movie star.


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Walker and Roger Rodas, CEO of Valencia-based Always Evolving, were killed in a crash off Hercules Street, near Kelly Johnson Parkway, in the Valencia business area.

Universal Studios officials obtained a permit from the city of Santa Clarita to close off the site from residents and media, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials. Deputies were hired to keep the ceremony, which last more than three hours, private.Fans memorialize "Fast and the Furious" star Paul Walker Santa Clarita crash

After the memorial, movie star Vin Diesel, who co-starred in the “Fast and the Furious” movies with Walker, addressed throngs of fans who lined the streets near the industrial park to pay their respects.

“If (Walker) could see for himself that all of you have showed up to show my brother love at this hard time, and the family gets to see all of you show the love that you’ve shown Paul — it’s going to stay with me forever,”  Diesel said. “I just wanted  to say thank you, thank you for coming down here and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciated him.”

While the street was closed off, it didn’t stop hundreds from lining the streets to pay their respects and leave flowers and other keepsakes at the site of the crash.

There were still news outlets and more than two dozens fans at the site near the Rye Canyon Loop Road Tuesday morning.

Santa Clarita resident Arlie Alfro said she was visiting the site because, “I’m a Filipino and I heard that he was helping Filipinos,” she said. “I was just watching the “Fast and the Furious” movies over the weekend.”

Fans memorialize "Fast and the Furious" star Paul Walker Santa Clarita crash

The Porsche that Walker and Rodas were in, which Rodas was allegedly driving, slammed into a tree and then burst into flames, killing both occupants instantly.

Investigators with the Traffic Unit of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station have not yet determined the cause of the crash.

Detective Jeff Maag has released few details other than to confirm initial reports that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it crashed, and that currently, it’s not being investigated as a racing incident.

Walker was in town to promote a toy drive for his nonprofit Reach Out WorldWide, which sends aid to regions hard hit by natural disaster.

Walker was friends with Rodas, and the pair shared a love of sports cars.

Walker had ties to two Santa Clarita businesses, Always Evolving and Hybrid Haven, both of which were headquartered in the Rye Canyon Business Park where the crash occurred.

Allison Pari contributed to this report.


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Paul Walker’s Family, Friends Hold Vigil At Santa Clarita Crash Site

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.