Family, Friends Of Paul Walker Hold Private Memorial Near Crash Site
VALENCIA (CBSLA.com) — A private memorial site was cordoned off Monday night for friends, family and colleagues to pay respects to actor Paul Walker, who died in a fiery crash over the weekend.
CBS2's Suraya Fadel reports that Universal Studios made a special request to the Santa Clarita city manager's office to hold the memorial. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the company paid for all costs involved, including private security for an estimated three hours.
A tent was put up near the crash site and the area closed to the public at 7 p.m. Deputies cleared fans from the area and set up roadblocks to allow a private moment for those who knew the late actor best.
Actor Vin Diesel, Walker's co-star in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, addressed the crowd over the P.A. system of a police car.
"Thank you, thank you for coming down here and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciate him," Diesel said.
Three deputies were on site to assist with traffic control as shuttles and SUVs made their way to the memorial.
"It's appropriate," said one fan. "It's their time."
A steady stream of fans continued to arrive Monday at the site of the tragedy, where a memorial has been growing since Saturday.
Walker and Roger Rodas were killed in the fiery crash of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that crashed into a tree and then a light pole before bursting into flames around 3:30 p.m. in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop in Valencia.
The accident remains under investigation.
