85mph. The group gathered for coffee and donuts at the Hollywood Ranch Market on Vine Street before leaving around 1:15 p.m. ", Turnupseed was an innovator, including selling clients on preventativemaintenance programs, Nelson said. She suffered severe head trauma. See Photos of Your Favorite Stars Going Topless, Lets Go to the Beach! Turnupseed was coming from the left and made a left turn onto Highway 41. #jamesdean #rebelwithoutacause #caraccident. It just died. With Barris himself now gone and no sign of the car for 60 years, the end of Little Bastards haunting story may never be revealed. He was 63. The driver of the other car, 23-year-old California Polytechnic State University student Donald Turnupseed, was dazed but mostly uninjured; Dean's passenger, German Porsche . The accident probably causedTurnupseed to be more private still, Paggi said. Details, VPRs Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix Break Up Amid Raquel Cheating Rumors, RHONJs Jennifer Aydins Plastic Surgery Transformation: See Pictures. The day was beginning to fade, and only a black-and-white Ford Tudor car, driven by Donald Turnupseed, a 23-year-old student, was traveling in the opposite direction on 466. One thing is certain though, the crash that killed the rising Hoosier movie star succeeded in cementing his status as a legend. This browser does not support getting your location. An eyewitness reported James Dean's car had somersaulted several times . Much more important to be ticketed than not wearing seat belts, imo. English "It was never establishedwhose fault it was. Today, the spot where James Dean died is known as Blood Alley due to the number of fatal crashes, mainly head-on collisions, that still occur there among the high volume of commuters, truck drivers, and tourists today. https://deadwrite.wordpress.com/tag/donald-turnupseed/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_James_Dean, THE BARRIS STUFF | Page 3 | The H.A.M.B. Hunter at Mettler Station on Wheeler Ridge, just south of Bakersfield, for driving 65 mph in a 55 mph zone. He will always be remembered as the man who killed James Dean. Although tiny Cholame (population 116) makes Deans hometown of Fairmount, Indiana (population @ 2,600 in 1955) look like a metropolis, it would be hard to find a more typical California town. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. It's just that, if I don't make ahabit of doing it *every* time, I probably wouldn't do it *any* time.Since I've lived most of my adult life in Seattle, it was kind of amoot point anyway. In fact, the new recreation of the crash has determined that Dean's body, which took the full force of the impact, was flung into the passenger seat by the other car in the collision. The car itself is a thing of absolute beauty, and its speed and power were enough to lure Dean into making a deal for it. , updated More by Drew Dorian, Your email address will not be published. I'm just glad that brake lights come on automatically, or people wouldn'tuse those, either. . > You said much the same thing here when we discussed this in 1999. Privacy Policy. PARTII, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Curse of James Dean. The sun is setting behind Jack and Rose as the ship is sailing WEST. "More than likely," hesaid. ). In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway redesign. Driving along that long two-lane stretch of Central California highway, its easy to imagine what James Deans last hour was like even though much of todays road isnt the same one James Dean traveled on. On the other hand, getting aticket does have a way of gentling you down for a while. In order for > James Dean to be moving at any significant speed he had to have run the stop > sign and then into the right side of Turnipseed's car.> > Later, the intersection was realigned to make the Highway 46 straight > through and at present Highway 41 has a left turn lane directly facing the > oncoming Hwy 46 traffic. Just after purchase, Dean was driving his new car around Hollywood on September 23, 1955 when he ran into British actor Alec Guinness outside the Villa Capri restaurant. The Porsches transaxle assembly (#10046), is currently owned by Porsche collector and restorer Jack Styles in Massachusetts. As well as photos of the wreckage of the cars taken in the hours after the crash, the album also contains overhead views of the junction of Route 466 and Route 41 where the carnage unfolded, and images of skid marks on the ground. At approximately 5:15 p.m., Deans party hit the road, driving west on Route 466 toward Paso Robles, approximately 60 miles away. How did the accident happen that killed James Dean? - Answers We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. It may take a week or two to get . As his star (and income) began to rise, he graduated to the Spyder 550, an ultra-low, rear-engined sports-racer that cost $7000 in the States, the equivalent of two new Cadillacs in 1955. As Dean and Wutherich drove west on the now-nonexistent Route 466 toward Route 41, near the intersection of present-day Highways 46 and 41 northeast of Paso Robles, Cal Poly student Donald Turnupseed pulled his Ford . It was a>> light gray color, and the time of the accident was dusk. Before the CHP officers arrived, Dean had been pulled from the Spyders mangled cockpit, his left foot having been crushed between the clutch and brake pedal. "That's something that bothered him his whole life. Turnupseeds sister also had a difficult time coping with the accident and committed suicide. James Dean Secrets Of His Fatal Car Crash Revealed! - National Enquirer You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. You make some good points here. In Dean's passenger . Miraculously, the driver of the Ford, US Navy veteran Donald Turnupseed emerged with just a few facial bruises and a bloody nose. The Porsche was loaned to the Los Angeles chapter of the National Safety Council, and from 1957 to 1959, it went on a gruesome tour of car shows, movie theaters, and bowling alleys. As I remember the Highway 41/46 junction, > Turnipseed had the right of way on Highway 41 with Dean approaching > eastbound on Highway 46 controlled by an arterial stop sign. Dean spotted an oncoming black-and-white 1950 Ford Custom coupe heading east on Rt. I saw the TV special and it appeared to use the present highway alignment. On This Day In Photos: James Dean Died - Flashbak On that fateful Friday, Wtherich sat next to Dean, while Hickman followed with his truck and trailer. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Miller's Tulare FuneralHome. In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway > redesign. This account has been disabled. He was interviewed by the Tulare Advance-Register newspaper immediately following the crash, saying that he had not seen Dean's car approaching, but after that, refused to ever again speak publicly about the accident. The impact sent Turnupseed's heavy Ford sliding 39 feet down the highway, but the Spyder, a much lighter car, was propelled into the air. Terms of Service. Donald Turnupseed, the Tulare man who quietly built a family business and endeavored to maintain his privacy after being involved in the car accident that killed actor James Dean four decades ago, has died at age 63. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Deans first races were run in a Porsche 356 Speedster, which he bought in March 1955. ON This Day In Photos: September 30, 1955 - James Dean killed in a car crash. Imagine that, killing James Dean and never wanting to talk about it. . -from the Tulare Advanced Register, July 13/14, 1995. It didnt slow Dean down one bit. Shortly after the crash, publicity monger and self-proclaimed King of Kustoms George Barris bought the Spyder, promising to rebuild it. Dean and Wtherich traveled in the same ambulance to the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, 28 miles away. He left Blackwells Corner with Rolf Wtherich, the Porsche mechanic, and sped away, leaving his mates behind. Verify and try again. Unlike his father, Donald Turnupseed was likeable, but not outgoing, Paggi said. "There's always somebody calling up or coming to the door.We had to push them out the door.". Both Dean and Turnupseed were pronounced dead at the scene. Turnupseed developed a fondness for cars while a student at 131, A charged debate: Battery maintenance tech explained. Oddly, I happen to have a copy of Dean's death certificate as I> know some of the men who signed it (not my Dad, though).> > As the best I remember at the Highway 41/46 split Turnipseed had the right> of way and Dean had an arterial stop sign. Part of the way on scenic Highway 101 (which I highly recommend should you ever find yourself out that way) and part of the way retracing James Deans final drive. The vendor, also called Robert Coyle, said: 'These are official photos taken at the scene after the crash. He and his passenger, mechanic Rolf Wtherich, slammed into the Ford driven by 23 year old Donald Turnupseed. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Was Kurt cobain of nirvAnas grandmother ms dean related to James dean? You do not have permission to delete messages in this group, Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message, Imagine having to live with the knowledge you killed James Dean! At, Regarding the James Dean crash: My father with the attending physician for, James Dean's last words: "That guy's got to stop! This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The James Dean Memorial in Cholame - Discover Central California It sort of blends in to the surrounding nothingness except for the shadows of footprints and mementos left by fans from all over the world. James Dean Crash site One of the men mentioned, He had a closed-casket funeral to conceal his severe injuries from his hometown friends and family. These men had been underclassmen at Fairmount high school and relayed stories of encounters with Dean from their school days. Turnupseed's death was overshadowed by Dean's. "As a business person, (DonaldTurnupseed) learned from his dad. How did Donald Turnupseeds life change after the accident? The route was upgraded and moved slightly north in the 1960s. and I don't care. I'm sure the analysis you reference is the best available for thissort of thing, but you have to keep in mind that "the best available"isn't necessarily all that good. But there were no available tables at the Villa Capri either. A witness reported it doing cartwheels and smashing into the ground several times. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Sir Alecs prediction came true. Next Week-PART II of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Curse of James Dean. Dean became a cultural icon following his starring role as troubled teenager Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause (1955). Macabre Images of James Dean clowning in the Fairmount Funeral Home. Drag images here or select from your computer for Donald Gene Turnupseed memorial. James Dean's Accidental Killer - Donald Turnupseed - Car - YouTube The racers road went directly to Blackwells Corner at U.S. Route 466 (later SR 46). He talks of hearing the car is in Eureka. In that same race, a Dr. McHenry was killed when his race car went out of control and struck a tree. Photo via Corbis. When he reached the Route 41 junction, he went to take a left turn - not noticing the small silver Porsche headed in the opposite direction. . All Rights Reserved. After being interviewed by the CHP, Turnupseed hitch-hiked in the dark to his home in Tulare. Around 5:00 p.m., Dean stopped at Blackwells Corner for apples and Coca-Cola and met up briefly with fellow racers Lance Reventlow and Bruce Kessler, who were also on their way to Salinas in Reventlows Mercedes-Benz 300 SL coupe. But he keptclose ties to the business, Nelson said. Dean unleashed his Porsche 550 and left Hickman and the Ford station wagon far behind. As I remember the Highway 41/46 junction. Unfortunately, Turnupseed had already started to make his turn before he saw the Porsche traveling quickly toward him. James Dean received a speeding ticket on Highway 99 about a hour before this wreck. A system error has occurred. The car is said to have fallen from its display while on show in Sacramento, breaking the hip of a bystander. Let the guy drive with his lights on if it makes him feel. There was never an official finding of fault in the crash, however standard driving procedure would indicate that Turnupseed was at fault since he made the left in front of Dean. I secretly(*) hope they will have a wreck, but just not involve me! I read that the insurance investigators, CHP. Details of James Dean's Death in a Car Accident - LiveAbout WhileMr Turnupseed walked away from the wreckage with only a bloodied nose and bruising, Dean suffered a broken neck and died shortly after being rushed to hospital. Just discovered I DO get the National Geographic channel! Donald Turnupseed continued to live a relatively normal life after the accident. There is a problem with your email/password. The sheer velocity of the impact flipped Dean's car . Hickman and Roth arrived on scene some ten minutes after the crash. What kind of car did James Dean have? . A March 12, 1959 wire service story reported that the deathcar, temporarily stored in a garage at 3158 Hamilton Avenue in Fresno, caught fire awaiting display as a safety exhibit in a coming sports and custom automobile show. The significance of all this means various things to various people here at the spot where the 24-year-old icon of disaffected youth died on Sept. 30, 1955, when he gunned his sports car down a. Dramatic never-before-seen photographs from the wreckage of James Dean's fatal car crash have been unearthed 64 years after the Hollywood legend's horrific death. Imagine Turnupseeds car bearing left and swerving onto your index finger precisely at the same time as Deans car passes the same spot. As the best I remember at the Highway 41/46 split Turnipseed had the rightof way and Dean had an arterial stop sign. I was in that restaurant and you couldnt get a table. How fast is it? he asked. A copy is posted here in Woodland at Chubby's Diner with other Dean memorabilia. The. He lived almost 40 years after this accident, and gave only one interview, and that was a day after the accident, and that to his local paper. As Reventlow and Kessler were leaving, they all agreed to meet for dinner that night in Paso Robles. While driving on the highway on Sept. 30, 1955, a man named ahem Donald Turnupseed randomly turned left in an intersection and caused Dean to crash his Porsche. The heavy Ford Turnupseed slid 39 feet down the highway while the Spyder 550 (a much lighter car) was thrown into the air. I'm takingfor granted that Exponent's record in court cases gives it somecredibility here, but you're right -- these are not facts. > Dean was heading west from Bakersfield to join the 101 at Paso Robles. > Exponent -- which is really very good at this sort of thing -- found> that Dean was not speeding at the time of the crash, and provided> ample evidence to back its claim. what happened to donald turnupseed car. Wtherich returned to Germany where he became a successful rally co-driver in the 1960s but reportedly never got over the 1955 crash physically or emotionally. "You could never get close to Don." Oh, shucks! From the 5th Annual Kar-Kapades that was held at the Monterey Fairground, February 1959co-promoted by George Barris with James Dean's Last Racing Sports Car. With him in the car was his Porsche factory-trained mechanic, Rolf Wtherich. Turnupseed made a left turn in front of Dean's car as Dean was approaching an intersection. IMHO, From the looks of the crash photos, the (5 yr. old) Ford looks to be a total Major body/frame damage. (*) I guess it's not a secret anymore . You'll be able to compare your memory of the highway with how theyre-created it for the simulation. History - The Turnupseed '50 Ford | The H.A.M.B. This impact and the accompanying crash resulted in Dean suffering a broken neck . All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. He did not stop and plowed into the passenger side of Turnipseed's> car. Dean was driving directly into> the sun. His family also helped shield him from reporters. Part of his remaining allure involves his small town genesis, the curse of his death car and an unexpected connection to the Star Wars franchise. During the Civil War, Jack enlisted in the 56th New York Volunteer Infantry. He suffered a broken neck and massive internal and external injuries. It was Barris who painted the number 130 on the doors, front hood and rear trunk of Deans Posche Spyder. Donald Turnupseed was driving the opposite direction as James. No one was injured. Turnupseed was a 23 year old college student at Cal Poly State University when driving eastbound on Route 466 (later renamed Route 46) when attempting to. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. They reported that both cars were traveling at high speeds and that Deans car had passed Turnupseeds moments before the collision. James Dean was killed in a car crash in 1955 - here's how his fame kept Paggi said. (jalopyjournal.com), What happened to Donald Turnupspeed's shoebox? 3, No Shirt, No Problem! ", Turnupseed's family declined to be interviewed for this story. He was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. (jalopyjournal.com), (You must log in or sign up to reply here. The directly-measured results are frequently way off what thecops at the scene would conclude from simply looking at damage anddistance. The truck driver was mostly unharmed, with just a few superficial cuts and bumps. Donald Gene Turnupseed was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. The police report concluded that Dean was at fault for the accident. - DONALD TURNUPSEED - Orlando Sentinel 27 famous people who predicted their own demise | History 101 Eschrich crashed the Lotus at the 1956 Pomona sports-car races, surviving, but McHenry wasnt as lucky. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. A woman with nursing experience attended to Dean and detected a weak pulse in his neck, but according to the woman, death appeared to have been instantaneous. Exponent -- which is really very good at this sort of thing-- found that Dean was not speeding at the time of the crash, andprovided ample evidence to back its claim. I have no choice but to drive with headlights in the daytime. In the wake of Deans death Turnupseed was quickly forgotten. James Dean's career as an actor and racing driver was cut tragically short on September 30, 1955, when his "Little Bastard" Porsche 550 Spyder was involved in a catastrophic collision on the way to a race meeting. Donald Turnupseed was likeable, but not outgoing even before the crash, Al Paggi, owner of Paggi Electric told the Advance-Register in 1995. Dean was at the wheel of his sleek silver Porsche Spyder was headed to a sports car race (his fourth) at Salinas Municipal Airport. Two Friendly Ghosts: Directed by Parker Ellerman. (Unless the production designer for THE GREEN BERETS was somehow involved.). No one is denying Dean got aticket. At 5:45 PM on September 30, 1955, Donald Turnupseed was headed east on Route 466 in his 1950 Ford. The road shimmers along this route, making it hard to tell where the road ends and the horizon begins. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Interesting that Turnupseed did all his own cutomizing, paint work, etc. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. In fact Little Bastard had caused upset almost from the moment Dean bought it. Was James Dean murdered? All the conspiracy theories During our 10th wedding anniversary trip to California in 1999, Rhonda and I drove from San Francisco to Hollywood. 1128138816.@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com, 1128163290.@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com. The car was sold for parts and eventually melted down. Turnupseed was gradually turning left to take the turn towards Highway 41 at the intersection. Dean laughed it off and set about preparing the car for the Salinas sports car races with his Porsche mechanic Rolf Wtherich. Baldwin |am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also\ / bal@panix.com|to deny under oath that I ever made it. "The last 10 years he didn't do thatmuch," Nelson said. Hold your arm straight out. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Cant get much more California than that now can you? His mechanic Rolf Wutherich, who was in the passenger seat, was flung from the car and sustained serious injured. The idea that lights don't help in the daytime is justplain nonsense. Despite being declared a total loss by the insurance company, the car was sold on and would continue to cause carnage wherever itor even parts of itwent. Turnupseed died of cancer in 1995. Jury finds Dean death accidental PASO ROBLES, Oct. 11 After deliberating only 24 minutes,. James Byron Dead was 24 when he crashed his Porsche 550 Spyder almost head-on with another car driven by Donald Turnupseed, 30 miles east of Paso Robles. We were toured around the community by a couple of older gentlemen who graciously pointed out spots the young actor frequented including the family farm, Deans old high school, a few of the old stores Dean used to frequent, the cemetery and the funeral home where Dean was prepared for burial. Go seeit. . Guinness had an ominous feeling on seeing the Porsche and would later write in his diary: The sports car looked sinister to me . Try again later. The tragic crash came only nine days after Dean traded in a Porsche Super Speedster for the more . He was headed to his Central . In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. That's not DonaldTurnupseed," said Wally Nelson, president of Turnupseed Electric inTulare. The Ford suddenly began to turn left to head northwest on 41. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Dont be so mean! After Dean brushed off the warning, the group proceeded to have a charming dinner. Guinness recalled, then closed his story by saying, It was one of those odd things. Shocking unseen photos showing the wreckage of Hollywood star James Donald Turnupseed drifted into the oncoming lane and collided with James Deans car. if you get in that car you will be found dead in it by this time next week.. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. There are also nine pictures showing the "terrifying aftermath" of the crash, including Dean and Turnupseed's "mangled automobiles," RR Auction says. Speaking of trauma, all of America has a "whoa" moment, when Jayne Mansfield lost her life in a . Like James Dean himself, Cholame is frozen in time. But they don't consider that when someone can't *see* them, they *also* are likely to be part of a serious/fatal accident. In his 1974 book Cars of the Stars George Barris first wrote about the curse and the numerous incidents involving fatal accidents and other serious injuries, but other than the few minor mishaps reported here, researchers have found no evidence to support most of Barris claims. It burned two tires and scorched the paint on the vehicle. Barris claimed that the deathcar mysteriously disappeared in 1960 while returning from a traffic safety exhibit in Florida in a sealed railroad boxcar. Eschrich then raced the Porsche-powered Lotus, which he called a Potus, at seven California Sports Car Club events during 1956. Why Do I Hear Water Sloshing Around In My Car. The James Dean car accident occurred on September 30, 1955, when James Dean was driving his Porsche 550 Spyder to a race in Salinas, California. at Beverly Glen Blvd. He did not stop and plowed into the passenger side of Turnipseed's, car. September 30, 1955 - James Dean dies driving Porsche 550 Spyder The crash happened where your fingers meet, with the Porsche coming toward you on your middle finger and the Ford traveling up your forearm toward your index finger in the opposite direction. When the crash occurred, Rolf Wtherich was ejected out of the Porsche as it spun in the air. Some claim that the source of that curse was none other than iconic Pop Culture car creator known as the King of the Kustomizers, George Barris. I remember the night when Dad> reported the news at home. Despite a million-dollar reward for information being offered in 2005, Little Bastards whereabouts remain unknown. James Dean dies in car accident - HISTORY . Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Because Moss was wearing trousers, the duo had been turned away from a number of restaurants so they traveled to the less formal Italian restaurant. He died while still filming Giant but its release confirmed his star status. Learn more about managing a memorial . A German journalist was the last the call, Nelsonsaid. Oddly, I happen to have a copy of Dean's death certificate as I know some of the men who signed it (not my Dad, though). A man named Donald Turnupseed was driving a Ford truck. Although he has refused interviews for decades, Turnupseed did speakwith the Tulare Advance Register hours after the crash. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. "You could never get close to Don," he said. The car landed in a crumpled heap with Dean still inside. Donald Gene Turnupseed (1932-1995) - Mmorial Find a Grave American Folk Figure. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Eschrich installed the Porsches engine into his Lotus IX race car, then loaned the transmission and suspension parts to fellow doctor and racer Troy McHenry. Thanks for your help! James Deans death cemented his reputation as a rebel and an icon of the 1950s. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Tulare Cemetery.Remembrances may be sent to Hospice of Tulare County, 605 W. WillowAve, Visalia, CA 93201. Parking and walking over to the spot where James Dean died is a dangerous exercise on this remote, but very busy highway. OK, maybe I should've posted "Donald Turnupseed, involved in the JamesDean crash"I don't see why you have to get personal about it, Stacia. 0 cemeteries found in Tulare, Tulare County, California, USA. You are most definitely tripping on that. But, to date, neither of Deans Porsches have been located. "They had a chance to fix it beforedown time.". Turnupseed gave only one interview about the Sept. 30, 1955, crash that killed the 24-year-old star of Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden.