The widow of the man driving in the car crash that killed Paul Walker last November is suing Porsche. Roger Rodas' wife, Kristine Rodas, filed a lawsuit on Monday, May 12, claiming that the car's design and suspension were to blame for the fatal crash that resulted in both Rodas and Walker's deaths.
The suit, as reported by the LA Times, alleges that the Porsche Carrera GT that Rodas was driving only went 55 mph when it "malfunctioned," crashed, and burst into flames. "The Carrera GT was unsafe for its intended use by reason of defects in its manufacture, design, testing, component and constituents, so that it would not safely serve its purpose," the suit read.
Kristine's lawsuit also claimed that Rodas, an experienced race car driver, attempted to steer the car away from crashing, but one of the tires malfunctioned, further alleging that the car's suspension system was to blame. The $500,000, 605-horsepower car—which is notoriously difficult to steer—also lacked a crash cage and the proper safety amenities that could have potentially saved the lives of Rodas and Walker, the suit claimed.
In contrast, the investigation conducted by the LA County Sheriff's Department in March found that the accident was caused by unsafe driving, rather than mechanical problems. It concluded that the vehicle was traveling at 90 miles per hour when Rodas lost control and the car crashed. According to the LA Times, that conclusion was reached by investigators after they had consulted with Porsche technicians.
Rodas, 38, was a father of two and financial advisor who worked with high-profile clients including Walker. The two pals, who reportedly met at a California race club, bonded over their mutual interest in cars. Walker, 40, was in the middle of filming Fast & Furious 7 at the time of his death and production was briefly shut down. Producers behind the film franchise announced last month that it would move forward with filming with the help of Walker's brothers, Caleb and Cody.
The final movie will land in theaters on April 10, 2015.
