A federal judge ruled it could not be proved that Porsche is responsible for the accident that led to the death of actor Paul Walker – star of the Fast and Furious movies.
U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez on Monday dismissed a lawsuit claiming the 2005 Carrera GT that crashed in 2013 had insufficient safety equipment, leading to the deaths of Walker and the driver, Roger Rodas.
The suit was brought on by Rodas’ widow, Kristine Rodas. Rodas argued in court that the car’s suspension had failed and that it lacked a necessary racing fuel cell and crash cage.
While Gutierrez’s dismissal is a victory for Porsche, which has denied claims that safety flaws were to blame for the deaths, two other cases brought on by Walker’s father and daughter are pending.
Walker and Rodas were in the car when it lost control, smashing into trees and a utility pole in Santa Clarita, Calif., near Los Angeles, killing them. A police investigation blamed the crash on high speed.
Porsche said in November that Walker’s death was his “own comparative fault,” saying he “knowingly and voluntarily assumed all risk, perils and danger.” Porsche said the Carrera GT was “abused and altered” and was “misused and improperly maintained.”
