‘Fast and Furious’ star’s death ruled accident

This photo released by Pantelion Films shows Paul Walker in a scene from the film “Hours,” directed by Eric Heisserer and to be released in theaters on Dec. 13, 2013. The “Fast and Furious” star died of “traumatic and thermal injuries” in a fiery car accident, coroners said Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013. AP

LOS ANGELES—”Fast and Furious” star Paul Walker died of “traumatic and thermal injuries” in a fiery car accident, coroners said Wednesday, as the film franchise’s makers said they were shutting down production for now.

A preliminary autopsy report confirmed that Walker, 40, was the passenger in a $400,000 red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT driven by his friend Roger Rodas when it crashed at speed Saturday in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles.

Rodas died of “multiple traumatic injuries,” according to the preliminary autopsy results, while Walker’s cause of death was listed as the “combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries.”

The results of toxicology tests are still pending, and could take six to eight weeks, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said, ruling both deaths as accidental.

The star’s death stunned fans of the high-octane series, who have flocked to the spot where he died, contributing to a growing makeshift shrine where co-stars including Vin Diesel have come to pay their respects in the days since the crash.

It was a huge blow to studio giant Universal, for whom the franchise is a huge money maker, in an industry increasingly dependent on lucrative blockbuster sequels.

Universal Pictures announced Wednesday they have shut down production of “Fast and Furious 7″ following Walker’s death.

“Right now, all of us at Universal are dedicated to providing support to Paul’s immediate family and our extended ‘Fast & Furious’ family of cast, crew and filmmakers,” said a statement by Universal Pictures.

“At this time we feel it is our responsibility to shut down production on ‘Fast & Furious 7′ for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise.”

Shortly before the crash, Walker had been at an event to raise money for victims of Suppertyphon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”) in the Philippines for Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW), a non-profit disaster relief group the actor founded.

The actor was taking a Thanksgiving break from filming the seventh “Fast and Furious” movie, which had been scheduled for release in July.

The filmmakers added: “We are committed to keeping ‘Fast & Furious’ fans informed, and we will provide further information to them when we have it. Until then, we know they join us in mourning the passing of our dear friend Paul Walker.”

Walker raced cars, described himself on Twitter as an “outdoorsman, ocean addict,” and “adrenaline junkie,” and did many of his own movie stunts.

Due to appear in non-action film

In a departure from his action movie roles, Walker is due to appear in “Hours,” an independent movie set for mid-December release about a father who struggles to keep his ailing infant daughter alive after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005.

Walker was also scheduled to star in the 2014 crime-action film “Brick Mansions,” a remake of the 2004 French movie District B13.

Before his “Fast and Furious” breakthrough, Walker appeared in TV commercials as a child, and was in several 1980s TV shows.

He became a teen heartthrob, appearing in such movies as “Pleasantville” (1988), “She’s All That” and “Varsity Blues” (both 1999).

The first “Fast and Furious” movie appeared in 2001. The series, with its focus on fast cars, tough guys, sexy starlets and exotic locales, is one of Hollywood’s most successful global franchises.—Michael Thurston