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131, A charged debate: Battery maintenance tech explained. When the crash occurred, Rolf Wtherich was ejected out of the Porsche as it spun in the air. While it wasn't technically seen in any movies, actor James Dean's Porsche 550 Spyder (affectionately known as Little Bastard) could be the most iconic, and cursed car Hollywood has ever seen. Macabre Images of James Dean clowning in the Fairmount Funeral Home. Answer (1 of 2): It would appear that the accident investigation came to no conclusion as to blame, in part possibly due to Dean's speed at the time, the small profile of Dean's car, and questionable light conditions. what happened to donald turnupseed car Donald Turnupseed, a college student, was making his way towards Fresno with no intention of making headlines . If I had to guess, that sure looks like a 70-80 mph impact. He left Blackwells Corner with Rolf Wtherich, the Porsche mechanic, and sped away, leaving his mates behind. Dean's "significantly damaged" 1955 Porsche. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Taped theshow! He handed control of hiscompany to Nelson last year as his lung cancer progressed. Failed to remove flower. "You could never get close to Don," he said. in Sherman Oaks around 2:00 p.m. to gas up for the 300 mile trip up to Salinas. See post #80 and forward by Trailer Park Playboy (Turnupseed's Grandson). Shocking unseen photos showing the wreckage of Hollywood star James Finally, the Porsche is rumored to have disappeared from a sealed boxcar in 1960 while en route from Miami to Los Angeles. Black-and-white images of the acting heartthrob's mangled Porsche 550 Spyder recently resurfaced in a Boston auction house to be sold. exhausted, hungry, feeling a little ill-tempered in spite of Deans kindness, I heard myself saying in a voice I could hardly recognize as my own: Please never get in it. Dean, star of "East of Eden" and "Rebel Without a Cause" in 1955 and"Giant in 1956, died in an ambulance headed for a Paso Robles hospital.His mechanic, Rolf Wuetherich, was seriously injured but recovered.Wuetherich died in 1981 in a car crash in West Germany. As Reventlow and Kessler were leaving, they all agreed to meet for dinner that night in Paso Robles. Dean was barreling down Route 466 at an estimated 85 mph when a young Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed, driving a Ford Tudor, decided to make a sudden turn on to Route 41. Also on display in the museum are an assortment of Abraham Lincoln relics (a lock of his hair, the handles from his coffin, various bloodstained cloth and one of the coins purportedly placed on the dead Presidents eyes) as well as the Bonnie & Clyde, Flintstones, Back to the Future Movie cars and George Barris Batmobile. What did witnesses say about the accident? At the end of the 1955 interview, Dean said, "Take it easy on the highway, the life you save may be mine." Martin Luther King Turnupseed's car was struck by a speeding silver grey PorscheSpyder driven by Dean, who at 24 was the star of three major films. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. James Dean and Donald Turnupseed, the man whose car killed Dean, meet again for the first time . Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. How did Donald Turnupseeds life change after the accident? Next Week-PART II of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Curse of James Dean. , updated The tragic crash came only nine days after Dean traded in a Porsche Super Speedster for the more . What Happened To James Dean Car | Car Geek Just to amplyfy my post. American Folk Figure. You can always change this later in your Account settings. The driver of that car was a college student by the name of Donald Turnupseed and he was only injured in the crash. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Miller's Tulare FuneralHome. The insurance company, through a salvage yard in Burbank, sold the Spyder to a Dr. William F. Eschrich, a driver who had competed against Dean in his own sports car at three races in 1955. Rare Original Photos from the Accident that Killed James Dean. | Lot There was never an official finding of fault in the crash, however standard driving procedure would indicate that Turnupseed was at fault since he made the left in front of Dean. After receiving the citations, Dean and Hickman turned left onto SR 166 / 33 to bypass Bakersfields congested downtown district. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. what happened to donald turnupseed carBy, May 20, 2021 . There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. All Rights Reserved. 'These never-before-seen images offering an intensely unique perspective of the crash location and the resulting carnage - many of the photos taken only hours after the accident.'. The car is said to have fallen from its display while on show in Sacramento, breaking the hip of a bystander. The impact sent the Ford almost 40 feet down the road and ejected Wtherich from the Porsche. The public was shocked by James Deans death as he was a young and promising actor. It was later determined that Donald Turnupseed was at fault, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, but no one was held responsible for the collision. The group gathered for coffee and donuts at the Hollywood Ranch Market on Vine Street before leaving around 1:15 p.m. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Donald Turnupseed, the Tulare man who quietly built a family business and endeavored to maintain his privacy after being involved in the car accident that killed actor James Dean four decades ago, has died at age 63. All the Celebrity Couples Who Broke Up in 2023, 'Vanderpump Rules' Stars Who Split: All the Couples Who Broke Up, LPBW Stars Love to Swim! Interesting that Turnupseed did all his own cutomizing, paint work, etc. But they never shorted anybody on their work.". Resend Activation Email. (*) I guess it's not a secret anymore . Hickman assisted in extricating Dean from the wreckage. Try again later. The impact sent the much-heavier Ford sliding 39 feet down Route 466 in the opposite lane. The wrecked Spyder was declared a total loss by the insurance company, which paid Deans father, Winton, the fair market value as a settlement. Miraculously, the driver of the Ford, US Navy veteran Donald Turnupseed emerged with just a few facial bruises and a bloody nose. The Spyder also reportedly fell on and killed George Barkus, the driver who transported it to a road-safety expo. Both Dean and Turnupseed were pronounced dead at the scene. The comments below have not been moderated, By Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. James Dean crash investigation took only 2 weeks in 1955 | San Luis But, to date, neither of Deans Porsches have been located. He died while still filming Giant but its release confirmed his star status. I was in that restaurant and you couldnt get a table. I have enough to do to drive my own vehicle without having to drive someone else's who is focused on their cellphone conversation instead of watching where they are going and what they are doing. Trump's parents and siblings: What do we know of them? - BBC The heavy Ford Turnupseed slid 39 feet down the highway while the Spyder 550 (a much lighter car) was thrown into the air. Both Turnupseed and Dean's mechanic Rolf Wutherich were unscathed in the horrific accident. Oddly, I happen to have a copy of Dean's death certificate as I know some of the men who signed it (not my Dad, though). You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Why James Dean's cursed car part sold for $382,000 - SFGATE Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Turnupseed developed a fondness for cars while a student at TulareUnion High School in the 1940s when he got a Model A, said Al Paggi,owner of Paggi Electric. It sort of blends in to the surrounding nothingness except for the shadows of footprints and mementos left by fans from all over the world. The 48-year old company which employs andaverage of 75 workers, has branch offices in Bakersfield and Fresno andannual sales of about $15 million. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Estimated speed of deans car. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. It is ironic that Cholame sits within a mile of the San Andreas Fault-line because on September 30, 1955, the death of James Dean caused a seismic shift in pop culture history that resonates to this day. Although he was involved in the fatal crash, I think it's takingthings a bit far to say he "killed" Jamess Dean. Imagine Turnupseeds car bearing left and swerving onto your index finger precisely at the same time as Deans car passes the same spot. His dad was a very, very tough-mindedperson. Look at this 2004 Turbo Cabriolet, and at the Porsche 550 Spyder that actor James Dean was driving in 1955 when his life ended, and a legend began, after crashing into Donald Turnupseed's Ford. Required fields are marked *. "Budgie" Sturgeon, a partner in Spuhler and Sturgeon Insurance,which had a policy on Turnupseed's Ford. In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway redesign. One thing is certain though, the crash that killed the rising Hoosier movie star succeeded in cementing his status as a legend. The gruesome display was promoted as: James Deans Last Sports Car. Although billed below them, Deans Jet Rink character stole the movie by playing a character who over the course of 40 years goes from cowboy to oil tycoon. This evidence consists of where> the cars came to rest, and the level of damage they sustained in the> collision. Year should not be greater than current year. 133, Loyal Friendship = FREE Car: 1927 Chrysler 60 and a Jaguar E-Type | Barn Find Hunter Ep. PARTII, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Curse of James Dean. "He turned it into a little race car." His body would be taken via ambulance to Paso Robles War memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by Deputy Coroner Paul E. Werrick. IMHO, From the looks of the crash photos, the (5 yr. old) Ford looks to be a total Major body/frame damage. Rolf Wtherich - Wikipedia There are also nine pictures showing the "terrifying aftermath" of the crash, including Dean and Turnupseed's "mangled automobiles," RR Auction says. He and his passenger, mechanic Rolf Wtherich, slammed into the Ford driven by 23 year old Donald Turnupseed. Help us keep history alive. ", > A friend of mine bought the (good) driver's side, For the love of corn, deb, I know you're a fan but this man did not, I recall reading that the color of Dean's car was a factor. What type of car was Donald Turnupseed driving? Dean and Wtherich weren't as lucky as Turnupseed. The 24-year-old was driving west on US Route 466 in California, bound for a racing event in Salinas, on September 30, 1955, when his 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder collided with a 1950 Ford Tudor driven. (Unless the production designer for> THE GREEN BERETS was somehow involved.). There are other unconfirmed stories of Little Bastards post-accident life. Turnupseed was only mildly hurt, but Dean and Wtherich suffered serious injuries in the low-slung roadster. James Dean death: Fatal CA car crash photos go to auction | San Luis He talks of hearing the car is in Eureka. The collision was witnessed by several passersby who stopped to help. I drove that intersection and left turn many times as I made the trip from Paso Robles to Fresno to see a girl friend. forerunner ventures portfolio . After crashing into James Dean's Porsche, what happened to Donald Just after purchase, Dean was driving his new car around Hollywood on September 23, 1955 when he ran into British actor Alec Guinness outside the Villa Capri restaurant. If you pull off to the side of the road, its still possible to walk on part of the crumbling pavement, with weeds sprouting in the middle, and imagine that little silver Porsche speeding past.