They remarked that when the young method actor returned to Fairmount after making a Pepsi commercial and a bit part on TV, Dean attended a high school dance. Maybe I'm tripping on that. Donald Trump famously said he borrowed just $1m from his father to get started in business - the NYT says he received more than $400m cemeteries found in Tulare, Tulare County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. As Reventlow and Kessler were leaving, they all agreed to meet for dinner that night in Paso Robles. Dean was driving directly into the sun. The lawyer, Robert Coyle, kept hold of them after the case was dropped and they were inherited by his son who has now consigned them for sale for the first time. ). Dr. Eschrich had loaned Dr. McHenry the transmission and several other parts from James Deans deathcar. Eschrich then raced the Porsche-powered Lotus, which he called a Potus, at seven California Sports Car Club events during 1956. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. His father became an alcoholic and died a few years later. The route was upgraded and moved slightly north in the 1960s. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Hickman assisted in extricating Dean from the wreckage while Roth took photographs of the crash. He later switched to cattle and agriculture. The accident killed James Dean and changed the world forever. I refer you once again to the web page I cited. We didnt like him because he had all of the girls in the room fawning all over him and we couldnt get a dance. they said. Turnupseed received a gashed forehead and bruised nose and was not cited by police for the accident. Dean was driving directly into> the sun. There is a problem with your email/password. 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. See post #80 and forward by Trailer Park Playboy (Turnupseed's Grandson). Barris claimed that the deathcar mysteriously disappeared in 1960 while returning from a traffic safety exhibit in Florida in a sealed railroad boxcar. Turnupseed developed a fondness for cars while a student at TulareUnion High School in the 1940s when he got a Model A, said Al Paggi,owner of Paggi Electric. 'These never-before-seen images offering an intensely unique perspective of the crash location and the resulting carnage - many of the photos taken only hours after the accident.'. We need all the help we can get out there on the roads and being *seen* is the most important of all. As any experienced state trooper will tell you, there is a wide marginof error around that kind of analysis. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Imagine Turnupseeds car bearing left and swerving onto your index finger precisely at the same time as Deans car passes the same spot. In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway redesign. Search above to list available cemeteries. As the best I remember at the Highway 41/46 split Turnipseed had the right of way and Dean had an arterial stop sign. Paggi said. We have set your language to 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. The vendor, also called Robert Coyle, said: 'These are official. Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 p.m. by the attending emergency room physician, Dr. Robert Bossert. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. > You said much the same thing here when we discussed this in 1999. This bypass became known as the racers road, a popular short-cut for sports car drivers going to Salinas. Donald Turnupseed was driving the opposite direction as James. It was a very, very odd, spooky experience. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. They were taken by police officers and later given to the lawyer of the Ford driver when it was thought a court case would brought against him. Dean tried to swerve, but collided almost head on with Turnupseed's 1950 Ford Tudor. Bill, the simulation (with narration) is at the URL I posted. The directly-measured results are frequently way off what thecops at the scene would conclude from simply looking at damage anddistance. Estimated speed of deans car. It's a very good idea to get into, especially on a gray day when blue/gray vehicles are very hard to discern. 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. Hunter at Mettler Station on Wheeler Ridge, just south of Bakersfield, for driving 65 mph in a 55 mph zone. Dean could not avoid a collision. With theaid of his late parents, Harley and Ruth Turnupseed, the Portervillenative built an electrical contracting business with commercial clientsacross the San Joaquin Valley and the central coast. It was Barris who painted the number 130 on the doors, front hood and rear trunk of Deans Posche Spyder. In 1981 he too died in a car crash. 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed, the driver of the Ford Tudor, had been traveling east on Highway 466 and was attempting to make a left turn onto Highway 41. I always drive with mylights on. 'Life After Lockup' Season 4 Couple Updates, Sister Wives' Janelle Drives By Christines Old Home: No One Lives Here, 90 Day Fiances Mohameds Domestic Violence Charges Against Yve Dismissed, What Your Favorite Celebs Are Doing This Week, Indio Downey Releases Life-Affirming Music Video for 'September', Jordyn Woods Reflects on How Pressures of Fame, Scrutiny Affect Her, Jordyn Woods on Her Future With BF Karl-Anthony Towns: Special Person, Inside the Gabby Petito Case: From Disappearance to Homicide to Lawsuit, Return to Amish's Sabrina and New BF Are 'Happy' After Baby No. As they approached the intersection, an unsuspecting student, Donald Turnupseed, drove back home in his Ford Tudor. 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. 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 . Both Dean and Turnupseed were pronounced dead at the scene. ", Turnupseed's family declined to be interviewed for this story. When people ask me why I do this, I>> say, if James Dean had had his headlights on, he would still be alive>> today.>. But the Spyder wasextremely low and painted light grey or silver, and the sun wassetting behind Dean as he approached the crossroad, so theythink Turnuspeed never saw him when he made his left turn andended up in Dean's path. Dean and Wtherich traveled in the same ambulance to the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, 28 miles away. . Dean was driving directly intothe sun. I googled the situation and found dozens of arguments/privateinvestigations of the accident, so I know that the InsuranceCompany and California Highway Patrol also recognized there weretoo many factors too fuzzy from which to glean conclusions. It didnt slow Dean down one bit. Guinness had already received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in The Lavender Hill Mob in 1951. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Meanwhile, Barris had sold a pair of tires from the 550 and both reportedly blew at the same time, causing the new owner to career off the road. Dean was in route to a race inSalinas. I love cars and I love writing about them Who was Donald Turnupseed? The truck driver was mostly unharmed, with just a few superficial cuts and bumps. Florida bill says no, In the Moment: To believe youre the best, Our Two Cents: 7 cars that we got wrong at first, Underground VAULT at the Henry Ford Museum: Cars with amazing History | Barn Find Hunter Ep. As they left the restaurant, Guinness heard the sound of running, sneakered feet behind them. Donald Turnupseed emerged virtually unscathed, outside of the emotional damage of Dean's death by his boneheaded move. Dean became a cultural icon immediately after his death. This evidence consists ofwhere the cars came to rest, and the level of damage they sustained inthe collision. This is a carousel with slides. How fast was James Dean driving at the time of the accident? 'Red Ruby Da Sleeze' Lyrics, 'Teen Mom' Alum Ryan Edwards Has a Long Criminal History: Timeline, Is Kim Zolciak-Biermann's Mansion in Foreclosure? How old was Donald Turnupseed when the accident occurred? Thanks, Shirley! The two lanes have remained virtually unchanged since then, while the population of the southern San Joaquin Valley has grown 120% since the crash. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. from Paso Robles to Fresno to see a girl friend. The 4-Cam Porsche engine (#90059), along with the original California Owners Registration (a.k.a. CA Pink Slip) listing the engine number, is still in the possession of the family of the late Dr. Eschrich. In that same race, a Dr. McHenry was killed when his race car went out of control and struck a tree. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The Best Celebrity Bikini Moments of 2023 So Far, Pretty Young Thing! It is likely he did not see Dean's silver Porsche until it was too late, and De. ON This Day In Photos: September 30, 1955 - James Dean killed in a car crash. Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Curse of James Dean. . Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by graverobber63, Dec 23, 2011. There are other unconfirmed stories of Little Bastards post-accident life. 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 mechanic 24-year-old James Dean was killed when his Porsche 550 Spyder collided when 23-year-old college student Donald Turnupseeds 1950 Ford Tudor Custom coupe as it made a left turn at the junction of State Highways 41 and 46. Turnupseed's car was struck by a speeding silver grey PorscheSpyder driven by Dean, who at 24 was the star of three major films. Regarding the James Dean crash: My father with the attending physician for> James Dean's mechanic, Rolf Wuertherich. Shortly before the accident, Dean, dressed as his cowboy character from Giant, filmed a road safety television spot with Hollywood star Gig Young. As the two cars converged on to the junction, the Ford veered over the centerline to turn left. Stop sign or not,though, Turnupseed turned into Dean's lane; there were skid marks toprove it. In some circumstances, they can help, but there are legitimate (andlargely unstudied) questions as to whether we'd be better off ifeveryone left his lights on all the time. They were taken to a hospital by ambulance and Dean passed on the way and was declared . 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. Guinness had an ominous feeling on seeing the Porsche and would later write in his diary: The sports car looked sinister to me . "They were tough competitors," saidAl Paggi, owner of Paggi Electric. "More than likely," hesaid. Turnupseed developed a fondness for cars while a student at Got it? Just discovered I DO get the National Geographic channel! Thanks, Shirley, but I don't think I get that channel! "You could never get close to Don," he said. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. The Ford suddenly began to turn left to head northwest on 41. The time was approximately 5:45pm. Dean died instantly. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Donald Gene Turnupseed I found on Findagrave.com. These are the only three such snapshots of the wreck in existence. A witness, John Robert White, reportedly saw the Spyder fly into the air and tumble two or three times in cartwheels before landing in a gully beside the shoulder of the road, northwest of the junction. Dean unleashed his Porsche 550 and left Hickman and the Ford station wagon far behind. Although he was involved in the fatal crash, I think it's takingthings a bit far to say he "killed" Jamess Dean. This display is what disappeared supposedly after returning from a Miami show in 1960. I liked him very much, too. At the time of the crash, Dean had completed one other film, 1956s Giant, which starred Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. Although he has refused interviews for decades, Turnupseed did speakwith the Tulare Advance Register hours after the crash. ____ in a ____ zone? 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. ' Dean laughed. Weve updated the security on the site. He was treated for a scrapednose and bruises at Tulare District Hospital. 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. Turnupseed was only slightly injured with facial bruises and a bloody nose. 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. The road shimmers along this route, making it hard to tell where the road ends and the horizon begins. The fates of race car mechanic Rolf Wutherich, college student Donald Turnipseed, and a Porche Spyder 550 A all converged about a mile East of Cholame, California, at 5:30 p.m. on Dean died almost instantly as a result of several injuries, including a broken neck. 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. He did not stop and plowed into the passenger side of Turnipseed's> car. The insurance company, through a salvage yard in Burbank, sold the Spyder to a Dr. William F. Eschrich, a driver who had competed against Dean in his own sports car at three races in 1955. Highway officials report that 42 deaths occurred on the road during the 45 years after James Deans passing. . Barris offered $1,000,000 to anyone who could produce the remains of the deathcar, but no one ever came forward to claim the prize. (Unless the production designer for> THE GREEN BERETS was somehow involved.). But there were no available tables at the Villa Capri either. There's a summary of FailureAnalysis's findings within this article: http://www.exponent.com/about/news/archives/2005/09/27/22.48.15/. He suffered a broken neck and massive internal and external injuries. Without time to turn, the two cars smashed nearly head-on. 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. He then beat on the aluminum panels with a 24 to try to mimic collision damage. Sixteen-year-old Dooley was travelling behind then-23-year-old student Donald Turnupseed when the wreck happened. March 4, 2022 . . You are most definitely tripping on that. Finally, the Porsche is rumored to have disappeared from a sealed boxcar in 1960 while en route from Miami to Los Angeles. The public was shocked by James Deans death as he was a young and promising actor. What did witnesses say about the accident? 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. The gruesome display was promoted as: James Deans Last Sports Car. You said much the same thing here when we discussed this in 1999. 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. James Deans career as an actor and racer 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. He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and was part of the unit dispatched to New York City to quell the infamous draft riots there. 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. One thing is certain though, the crash that killed the rising Hoosier movie star succeeded in cementing his status as a legend. It appears Bruce brown who I was told was Kurt cobains blood father and Bruce told me kurt was my paternal brother, may have traveled this same highway 46. Requests for interviews about the Sept. 30, 1955, crash came from around the world and served as a constant annoyance to Turnupseed. Oops, something didn't work. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Extensive investigation of the accident never established guilt, saidC.R. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Dean had been given the crude nickname by stunt driver Bill Hickman and the star decided to call his Porsche the same name. In Dean's passenger . Dean's "significantly damaged" 1955 Porsche. It was Barris who created the Batmobile, the Beverly Hillbillies truck, the Munster Koach and Grandpa Munsters Drag-U-La casket car used in the 1960s TV series. Why Do I Hear Water Sloshing Around In My Car. He hit a tree and was killed in the same race, and so the curse of Little Bastard gained strength. 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. I saw the TV special and it appeared to use the present highway alignment. "You've got to stop," James Dean told Weuterich when he saw Ford's maneuver. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. 131, A charged debate: Battery maintenance tech explained. After receiving the citations, Dean and Hickman turned left onto SR 166 / 33 to bypass Bakersfields congested downtown district. When the train arrived in Los Angeles, Barris said he signed the manifest and verified that the seal was intactbut the boxcar was empty. As this year's 40th anniversary of the crash approached, requests forinterviews continued. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. The cause of death listed on James Deans death certificate is listed as a broken neck, multiple fractures of the upper and lower jaw, both right and left arms broken, and internal injuries.. In March of 1959, while in storage in Fresno, the car mysteriously caught fire. After being interviewed by the CHP, Turnupseed hitch-hiked in the dark to his home in Tulare. Was killed after the car she was in crashed into the back of a tractor. , updated Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Turnupseed, who was driving from school in . They reported that both cars were traveling at high speeds and that Deans car had passed Turnupseeds moments before the collision. at the very same intersection where the accident occurred. Turnupseed was president of the San Joaquin Valley chapter of NationalElectrical Contractors Association 1990-94. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. The impact sent the much-heavier Ford sliding 39 feet down Route 466 in the opposite lane. I would have loved to have known him more. Would you expect any less from Obi-Wan Kenobi? Didn't mean to imply that it would. The sheer velocity of the impact flipped Dean's car . The simulation appeared to me to be using the highway layout as itexisted in 1955, as compared to contemporary photographs. Drag images here or select from your computer for Donald Gene Turnupseed memorial. 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 can't know for sure. The low slung little Porche skidded more than 100 feet from the . The presentalignment has no stop sign, a straight thru lane to Bakersfield and uses a left turn lane to Fresno rather than theoriginal "Y" layout with a stop sign. Around 5:45 p.m., a black-and-white 1950 Ford Tudor Custom coupe traveling at high speed was headed east on Route 466 just west of the town of Shandon. Route 466 now known as Route 46 in San Luis Obispo County California. I knew his daughter Peggy in the 1960s. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Dean was barreling down Route 466 at an estimated 85 mph when a young Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed, driving a Ford Tudor, decided to make a sudden turn on to Route 41. Enlisting stuntman Bill Hickman to help out, the original plan was to tow Little Bastard to the races, but Wtherich felt it would be better for Dean to get used to the Spyder and run the engine in. Mr Dooley, now 65, was 15 when he saw Dean's frail Porsche demolished, leaving it little more than a mangled mass of. Turnupseed, 2nd driver in James Dean crash, dies at 63, Tularean built family electric business as he resisted publicity for 40years. On Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:16:20 -0700 (PDT). Should dogs put their heads out car windows? 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. From 1957 to 1959, the exhibit toured the country in various custom car shows, movie theatres, bowling alleys, and highway safety displays throughout California. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. The accident had a profound effect on Turnupseeds family. 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. ). 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. On advise from la California Highway Patrol officer, Turnupseedhitch-hiked to Tulare after the crash. Jack Elsom For Mailonline, Tearful moment couple is surprised halfway through their wedding by the man whoreceived their 11-year-old son's donated heart and they're able to listen to it beating in his chest for the first time in seven years, Was speeding Tesla driving in autopilot when it ran a red light and killed a pedestrian? Donald turned left where the . There are interior shots of the wreckage of Dean's car, and one snap reveals the 'Little B*****d' sticker on the bonnet and his racing number, '130'. "Rob Petrie" wrote in message news:y8y%e.5861$oc.@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net> x-no-archive: yes>> "scottla" wrote in message > news:1128163290.@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com >>> I recall reading that the color of Dean's car was a factor. When the crash occurred, Rolf Wtherich was ejected out of the Porsche as it spun in the air. 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. A road sign rises from the median between the converging lanes ominously proclaiming it as James Dean Memorial Junction. How could the sun be setting behind him? He traded in his Speedster for the Spyder on September 21, and his new buddy Wtherich was part of the deal. Another 38 were killed from 2000 to 2010. And the fact the ford was partially side swiped adds to that guess. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. He ran a very successful electrical contracting business for most of the time since the accident before dying of lung cancer in 1995. Wtherich, whose feelings of guilt after the car accident never abated, tried to commit suicide twice during the 1960sand in 1967, he stabbed his wife 14 times with a kitchen knife in a failed. in Sherman Oaks around 2:00 p.m. to gas up for the 300 mile trip up to Salinas. James Deans aluminium-bodied Porsche was launched into the air, torn and crushed. It was Barris who also stenciled the name Little Bastard on the back of the car. Let the guy drive with his lights on if it makes him feel. Years later, hebuilt dune buggies, nelson said. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. "You could never get close to Don." Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. My new vlog YouTube link is in the bio. At the same time, Donald Turnupseed, a 23-year-old Navy veteran and Cal Poly student, was headed east on Route 466 just west of the junction of highways 46 and 41. It suffered remarkably little damagetwo melted tires and some singed paintand fortunately the fire didnt spread to other vehicles in storage. With him in the car was his Porsche factory-trained mechanic, Rolf Wtherich. On the other hand, getting aticket does have a way of gentling you down for a while. Cars and trucks speed by in both directions and anything short of a cautious drive by is not recommended. Thx. Oh, hell, that's not so bad. Shell do a hundred and fifty, replied Dean. 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. Requests for interviews about the Sept. 30, 1955, crash came fromaround the world and served as a constant annoyance to Turnupseed. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. Dean and Wtherich weren't as lucky as Turnupseed. What did the police report say about the accident? From this vantage point, its also easy to understand how Donald Turnupseed didnt see the tiny silver sports car as it approached from the foot of the Polonio Pass. Headlight use is mandatory along the 58-mile route, from Lost Hills off Interstate 5 to past Paso Robles to the west. Donald Turnupseed spent his entire life refusing to talk about James Dean. On that fateful Friday, Wtherich sat next to Dean, while Hickman followed with his truck and trailer. Turnupseed's death was overshadowed by Dean's. 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. DebThe national Geographic Channel is doing a special on the James Dean accident coming up at 5:00PM EST..Just thought you might be interested.Shirley. Seems that retrospectively, Deans death, like his life, can easily get lost in the legend. "MGW" wrote in message news:nh1sj19i16jkosg2o@4ax.com http://www.snopes.com/autos/cursed/spyder.asp. The business owner wasquiet even before the crash, Paggi said. Turnupseeds sister also had a difficult time coping with the accident and committed suicide. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Because it was twilight and the color of James's car blended in with the sky Donald couldn't see him. Try again later. In 2005, for the 50th anniversary of Deans death, the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois, announced they were displaying what was purported to be the passenger door of the Little Bastard.