Ride Me

This is the dramatic moment when a cop had to physically wrestle one of Paul Walker's friends away from the crash scene ... seconds after it became clear Paul could not be saved.

TMZ broke the story ... Paul's friends rushed to the scene -- one even grabbed a fire extinguisher and desperately tried to extinguish the flames.

When the fire dept. arrived they tried to pull Paul's friends away. One of Paul's longtime friends, a guy named Nute, was so overwrought with emotion, he punched a firefighter. We're told Sheriff's deputies put Nute -- and several other of Paul's friends -- in custody, but let them go when they realized the circumstances.

Cops now believe Paul and the driver of the Porsche may have been in a street race with another car at the time of the crash and are looking for footage and witnesses.

Cops are investigating the possibility that Paul Walker was in the middle of a high-speed street race with another car at the time he crashed and died this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... investigators have received tips that Walker and the man driving the Porsche, Roger Rodas, had been racing prior to the crash ... and the high speed may have contributed to the wreck that killed both men.

Sources say ... the area where the crash occurred has a history of being a popular street racing location.

We're told cops are on the hunt for video and witnesses that could prove another car was involved.

The exotic sports car in which Paul Walker violently died, crashed as a result of mechanical failure -- very possibly a steering fluid leak ... this according to sources closely tied to the auto shop where the vehicle was stored and maintained.

Sources connected to Always Evolving -- the shop co-owned by Walker and the Porsche driver Roger Rodas -- tell TMZ they saw evidence of a fluid burst and subsequent fluid trail before the skid marks at the accident scene.

The AE sources point to the fact there is a noticeable absence of skid marks until just before the point of impact. They say if Roger had lost control the skid marks would show swerving, but instead the marks were in a straight line. They feel this cements the theory the driver didn't have steering control.

Also suspicious -- the fire spreading so quickly in the front of the car. The sources say flames would be expected in the rear where the engine is ... but fire in the front reinforces their theory of a fluid leak of some sort.

We're told the $500,000 Carrera GT was NOT modified and was driven rarely so they believe any failure must be a factory defect.

Paul Walker fans have been heading to Valencia, CA in droves ... building out a massive vigil for the actor on the spot where he died.

Fans began to gather literally hours after the fatal crash on Saturday evening ... and by Sunday night, the memorial had grown exponentially ... with hundreds of flowers, candles, photos trinkets and letters.

As we previously reported, Walker's "Fast and the Furious" co-star Tyrese Gibson visited the crash scene yesterday ... and broke down crying when he arrived.

Paul Walker may not have ever gotten into the car that took him to his death if it hadn't been acting up moments before the crash ... TMZ has learned.

Paul showed up Saturday for a fundraiser at Always Evolving -- Roger Rodas' high end auto shop that specializes in exotic cars. Paul had a stake in the shop.

Sources connected to Roger tell TMZ when Paul arrived ... Roger was watching one of his employees try in vain to back the Carrera GT into the shop, but it kept stalling. Roger decided to take matters into his own hands ... told the worker to get out and took the wheel himself.

As Roger began to back into the garage ... Paul came up and said he hadn't driven in the Porsche yet -- so he jumped in the passenger seat and they took a 20 minute drive.

The fatal accident happened on the way back from that drive -- just 500 yards from the shop.

Paul's best friend from childhood, Nute, grabbed a fire extinguisher and was among the first to arrive on scene. We're told Nute frantically tried to extinguish the flames ... even though it appeared to him both men were already dead.

Paul Walker's body was burned so badly the coroner needs his dental records to identify the body ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the L.A. County Coroner tells us ... the bodies of Paul and his friend/business partner Roger Rodas are currently unidentifiable and their autopsies will be delayed until later this week.

We're told the coroner is waiting on both sets of dental records before proceeding.

Rodas -- who was driving the Porsche yesterday -- was friends with Walker for nearly a decade ... and Roger has been credited with helping Paul start his race shop.

The two also joined forces to create the "Reach Out World Wide" Foundation to help disaster relief in other countries -- and as we first reported ... the group was behind yesterday's fundraiser for typhoon relief in Santa Clarita.

Paul's rep says Roger and Paul were leaving the event when they wrecked.

Rodas was 38 years old.

Moments before Paul Walker took what turned out to be a fatal ride -- he posed proudly next to the exotic car that exploded on impact in the deadly accident.

Paul was photographed with the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that belonged to his friend Roger Rodas. They were attending a fundraiser in Santa Clarita, CA.

We're told the photos and video were taken about 30 minutes before the accident.

As TMZ first reported ... Paul had put together the charitable event -- through his Reach Out Worldwide organization -- to support typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines.

Paul was the passenger in the Porsche when Rodas lost control and slammed into a tree. The car exploded, and the Sheriff's Department says speed was a factor.

Paul Walker fans paid tribute to the 40-year old actor last night by holding a candlelight vigil on the site where he died.

The fans showed up in Santa Clarita Saturday evening ... leaving flowers and lighting candles in Paul's memory.

The vigil was held very shortly after law enforcement cleared the scene -- removing the bodies of Paul and the driver Roger Rodas ... as well as the charred wreckage of Roger's Porsche Carrera GT.

Paul Walker -- best known for his role in "The Fast and the Furious" movies -- died Saturday afternoon after a single-car accident and explosion in Southern California ... TMZ has learned.

The accident happened in Santa Clarita -- north of Los Angeles -- and Paul was the passenger in the two-seater Porsche Carrera GT when the driver somehow lost control and slammed into a post or a tree ... and the car burst into flames.

Several of our sources -- some of whom were at the scene of the accident -- tell us a friend of Paul's was driving and was also killed in the fiery wreck.

Cops say speed clearly played a major factor in the accident, but an exact cause has not been determined yet.

Paul was 40 years old. He leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter named Meadow.

Paul's rep tells us he was in Santa Clarita for a car show -- organized by Paul and his charitable organization Reach Out Worldwide -- to support the Philippines typhoon relief effort.

Several of his friends were attending the event ... which was very near to where the deadly accident happened.

One of Paul's friends talked to a TMZ photographer ... describing the scene ... and his efforts to save Paul from the burning car.

Paul took a pic with a fan at the event earlier on Saturday, and the guy posted it ... noting how happy Walker was just hours before the crash.

The fan added, "The world lost an angel in Paul. He dedicated so much of his life to helping disadvantaged kids and people who are in need. I'm gonna do whatever I can to keep Paul's goals for the charity alive."

Country music superstar Luke Bryan -- the guy behind the hit "That's My Kind Of Night" -- slammed a beer WHILE driving his truck back in July ... but cops say he did NOTHING wrong.

The incident went down on Luke's private ranch in Tennessee -- Luke can be seen chugging a can of Busch ... the brew that's "as smooth as it's name."

But according to the Knoxville Police Department, Luke was within his legal right -- 'cause in TN, it's perfectly OK to booze while operating a motor vehicle AS LONG as it's on private property.

So, while it might not be the safest thing to do -- it definitely ain't illegal.

Still, kids -- don't drink and drive.

A guy selling a Lexus on eBay is banking on you paying more because Leo DiCaprio cavorted with Gisele Bundchen and other models in the whip.

A guy named Brian bought the 1999 Lexus GS 400 at a dealership. The paperwork showed Leo was the prior owner who turned it in after the lease expired.

Brian bought the car in 2001 with 18,000 miles. He's selling it today with 148,091 miles, and you can buy it now for $20,000.

So how can he command such a price? Brian tells TMZ ... the former service manager at the Beverly Hills dealership told him Gisele was a passenger in the car several times when Leo dropped it off for service.

In other words ... sniffing the seat comes at a premium.

Here's the bad news for Brian ... The stale scent of a woman doesn't command lots of cents -- top bid so far is $5,000.

The woman whose son was killed while photographing Justin Bieber's Ferrari January 1 claims not one but TWO cars struck the photog. The second driver is wanted for felony hit-and-run and TMZ has learned the hit-and-run vehicle fits the basic description of an SUV in Bieber's entourage.

Bieber was NOT in the Ferrari. Lil Twist was behind the wheel when he was allegedly speeding on the 405, and a CHP officer pulled him off the Freeway. The deputy spoke to Twist and let him go, and then told photog Chris Guerra -- who was standing on the side of the road -- to get out of the area. As Guerra walked across the road, he was struck by a car, and shortly thereafter hit by a second vehicle.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ -- based on surveillance video and forensic evidence -- the second vehicle that struck Guerra was a black, high-profile SUV that was either a Range Rover or a Hummer.

Guerra's mom believes it's possible the SUV could have been someone from Bieber's camp either trailing the Fererari or coming to assist Twist. Cops are not embracing or discounting the mom's theory ... and the investigation is ongoing.

Guerra's mom wants the LAPD to show her the surveillance footage so she can see for herself, but they've told her it's an ongoing investigation so no dice.

We've contacted Bieber's camp for comment, but haven't heard back yet.

Birdman knows how to make a poor person feel REALLY POOR -- 'cause the rap mogul gave out free turkeys to families in need Monday ... and then drove off in a $2.5 MILLION luxury car.

The Cash Money prez rolled up to his turkey giveaway at Little Haiti Soccer Park in Miami yesterday in his ruby red Bugatti -- one of the most expensive cars in the world.

Seems a bit flashy considering he was giving away food to people who can barely afford it -- dontcha think???

Still, gotta give the guy credit -- 'cause Bird, along with Ace Hood, DJ Khaled, Slim and Mack Maine are giving away a total of 3,000 free turkeys in cities across the country -- just like they did last year. ​

Gobble gobble.

For now, DMX won't have to worry about getting popped for any driving offenses in his 1978 Buick Regal ... because his so-called friend allegedly stole it right out from under him ... according to a police report obtained by TMZ.

DMX and his girlfriend -- Desiree Lindstrom -- told cops they gave the car and a duplicate title to a friend ... who was going to sell it for them. But the friend vanished into thin air some time earlier this month and never returned.

What's more, according to the report, the friend changed his phone number ... and DMX doesn't know the guy's last name ... he only knows him as Lonny. Apparently DMX uses the term "friend" lightly.

Cops are on the lookout for the car ... but their first investigative task is to find out Lonny's last name.

Good luck.

Where there's smoke ... TMZ has learned, Ex-Disney star Jake T. Austin was busted for DUI just last month in the SAME CAR that was involved in the 4-car hit-and-run crash this morning.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Austin was arrested October 8th by the CHP after being pulled over for driving at night without headlights. We're told police officers smelled booze as they approached his vehicle, administered a field sobriety test and Austin did poorly.

According to sources, 18-year-old Austin blew a .08 and was arrested. He has since been charged with DUI and has a court date scheduled for TOMORROW.
At the time he was busted, Austin was driving the 2010 Audi with New York plates -- the same car that slammed into multiple cars early this morning.

Jake T. Austin -- who starred as Max Russo on the hit Disney show "Wizards of Waverly Place" -- was involved in a bizarre 4-car hit-and-run crash this morning ... and TMZ has the pics.

Here's what we know -- a 2010 Audi with NY plates slammed into 3 parked cars on a street in Sherman Oaks, CA around 3AM Tuesday morning. The cars suffered major damage.

According to an official incident report, obtained by TMZ, the Audi is registered to 18-year-old Austin (real name Jake Szymanski). It's unclear if Austin was driving the car at the time of the wreck.

Witnesses tell TMZ ... after the driver hit the parked cars, someone in the ride threw a bottle of Ciroc at a nearby property. One witness tells us the driver and his passengers called a black car service to come pick them up before cops arrived to the scene. The witness described one of the guys as a white male with dark hair who looked really young and acted really drunk.

Once officers arrived, they saw the wrecked Audi, along with the path of destruction -- but no Jake -- and issued a document to one of the people who suffered damage, which explained that the incident was being handled as a hit-and-run.

The document also shows the Audi is registered to Austin.

We spoke with cops -- who tell us they're currently investigating the situation. So far, no arrests have been made.