The news of anyone passing away is quite sad, irrespective of their age or manner of death. However, deaths that happen unexpectedly are not only shocking, they also tend to impact people related to that person in a much worse manner. Passing away in a car accident is something that, unfortunately, occurs quite regularly. Although the demise of anyone is sad, when national icons or stars pass away, emotions multiply and engulf a large population. A recent example of the same would be movie star Paul Walker, who died in a car crash at an age of 40. Walker, born in Glendale, California, was famous for his role in the extremely popular Fast & Furious movie franchise. Sadly, he is among many celebrities and famous people who have died in car accidents.
In recent times, no car accident has made more news than that of Diana, the former Princess of Wales. A well-known figure throughout the globe, Lady Diana died on the 31st August, 1997, at the age of 36. Her marriage to Prince Charles and the subsequent divorce were constantly under media scrutiny. Many considered her to be the 'most photographed woman of the world' when she was alive. In 1999, she made it to the list of Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. In the accident, which took place in Paris in a tunnel on the Pont de l'Alma road, Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, Trevor Rees-Jones and Henri Paul (driver) were in a Mercedes-Benz W140 and only Rees-Jones survived. There was huge controversy regarding this accident and according to sources, media put the blame on paparazzi. An investigation was carried out in France and it was declared that the accident was caused due to the reckless driving or Paul. However, terming this incident as a controversy. Dodi Fayed's father and billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed famously accused the Royal Family of conspiring with MI6 to get his son and Diana killed.
Cultural icon and movie star James Dean was a rage among youngsters across the globe when he died at the age of 24 in a car accident. Famous for his roles in movies like Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant, Dean became the first recipient of a posthumous Academy Award nomination. The American, known to loved ones as Jim or Jimmy, was an ardent automobile aficionado and participated in many races. According top reports, he owned a number of cars and bikes, which included the likes of Porsche 356, Porsche 550 Spyder, Harley-Davidson and Triumph T-110. James Dean was preparing for a race with his mechanic Rolf Wütherich, which he was scheduled to take part in the newly-bought Porsche 550 Spyder. Reportedly, the actor's car was a speed in excess of 80 mph when he tried to manoeuvre his car to avoid a crash, which, sadly, did not happen. Dean's 550 Spyder has become a part of popular culture in United States of America since his death.
Former Princess of Monaco and American actor Grace Kelly, known for her roles in films like Rear Window, Mogambo, High Society and The Country Girl, died at the age of 52 due to a car accident that took place in Monaco, France. Sources claim that the actress was driving her daughter to Monaco in a Rover P6 when she suffered from a heart attack, which caused the car to go off track to the mountainside.
