Being coordinated at changing face on screen does not equate to being coordinated behind the wheel. Many celebrities who feel they are invincible, perhaps as a side effect of being famous, find themselves in tragic car accidents; some of which are fatal. Perhaps the stars believe their money and fame can protect them from the reality of cold hard steel meeting asphalt. Regardless of why they drive like they do, it is no secret that many celebs have been nailed with DUIs and other misdemeanors behind the wheel. Included here are a few celebrities who have suffered in serious car accidents.
Paul Walker
One of the most recent accidents in the news was the fatal car accident that killed Paul Walker and Roger Rodas in Valencia, California. Paul Walker was widely renowned for his performances on-screen in the Fast and the Furious movie franchise. Walker was a lifelong car racing enthusiast and it seems his need for speed may have been what killed him.
James Dean
Famous movie star, James Dean, died in a car accident in a Porsche Spyder only a week after buying it. Dean was only 24 when he wrecked the car and died on his way to car race elsewhere. Sources believe Dean was unfamiliar with his new car and lost control of it. Ironically, a close friend of Dean’s had told him he would “be dead within the week” if he purchased the Porsche.
Rowan Atkinson
This beloved goofy actor has a more serious persona off screen and a passion for fast autos. Since Atkinson does not like Porsches, he drives a McLaren F1 that he has wrecked twice. His most recent accident in his favorite auto involved losing control and crashing into a tree and lamppost. The car caught fire, but Atkinson was able to get free.
Jay Kay
Cruising in a purple Lamborghini, Kay wrecked his vehicle while making a difficult turn at high speed. Kay was fortunately not seriously injured but did total the vehicle. In return for his irresponsibility, Kay was slapped with a meager $850 fine. Clearly, that money did not seem to impact him much, as Kay went out and bought a new Lamborghini to add to his car collection which includes a Porsche, Ferrari and Mercedes.
Eddie Griffin
While practicing for a charity event where celebs are pitted against each other in an auto race, Griffin managed to wreck a Ferrari Enzo belonging to Daniel Sadek. Driving the red demon on the track proved too difficult for Griffin, who confused the gas and brake pedals. Accidentally hitting the accelerator instead of the brakes, Griffin slammed the car into a concrete barrier.
Originally posted on December 21, 2015 @ 8:44 am