Fast & Furious star Paul Walker dead in fiery car wreck after Porsche GT driven by his friend crashed into pole

Actor Paul Walker, best known for his role in the Fast & Furious action movies, has died in a car crash after his friend lost control of a Porsche GT which smashed into a pole and a tree. The high-powered super-car, which was being driven by Roger Rodas, burst into flames after it crashed in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, at 3:30pm on Saturday. Walker, 40, who appeared in five of the six films about illegal street racing and heists, had been at an event for his charity Reach Out Worldwide before deciding to take the car, a cherry-red Porsche Carrer, out for a drive with his friend. The fundraiser, to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan, had been taking place in a race car shop near the scene of the crash.  Guests rushed to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but the fireball had already engulfed the car. 

The star's representatives and official Facebook page have confirmed his death.

The driver of the car has been identified as former race car driver Roger Rodas, 38, who was also Walker's financial adviser. The pair had been friends and had been racing for several years before they began collaborating on Walker's finances. Rodas had helped Walker establish his Reach Out Worldwide charity, after creating his own foundation to support widows and orphans in his native El Salvador. Rodas was also the CEO of Always Evolving, the car customization shop where Saturday's charity event had been taking place.

Ame Van Iden, Walker's publicist, said in an email: 'Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon in a car accident.'

The actor's official Facebook page was also updated with the message: 'It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide. 'He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives. 

'We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.  'Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences. - #TeamPW. Walker, who leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter, was an investor in the Always Evolving car shop in Valencia, California. While at the event, Walker and Rodas decided to take the Porsche GT out for a spin.  One witness, Jim Tort, who was at the event told the NY Daily News, Rodas' eight-year-old son tried to save his dad.  'I ran over afterwards, I was trying to find Roger's son.

'I found out his son had jumped the fence and gone over. He was trying to get his dad out.

Coroner Ed Winters said the bodies were so badly burned they would take days to positively identify. Witnesses at the crash scene posted a video of the scene on YouTube showing debris from the wreckage while emergency workers cordoned off the area.

Photographs also show a burnt out shell of a car. Friends of the star told a local newspaper they 'went through fire extinguishers' in a futile bid to fight the blaze that engulfed the car after the crash.

Antonio Holmes told the Santa Clarita Signal: 'We all ran around and jumped in cars and grabbed fire extinguishers and immediately went to the vehicle. It was engulfed in flames. There was nothing.  'They were trapped. Employees, friends of the shop. We tried. We tried.' 

Holmes added: 'Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart just decided to joyride, take a spin. Something we all do. We’re all car enthusiasts...  'We’re all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must’ve needed help. 'When we saw Paul and Roger leave, Paul was the passenger in the vehicle. They both were experienced drivers. 'This was just a tragic accident that happened on a joyride,' said witness Jim Torp of Santa Clarita. The Sheriff's Department said that speed was a factor in the crash.