How Did James Dean Die?
In a last-minute decision, Dean changed his mind and drove his Porsche instead. The trip was from Los Angeles to the track and with him was his mechanic, Rolf Wütherich. Driving along US Route 446 near Cholame, California, Dean crashed his car head on into a Ford Tudor which was being driven by 23-year-old named Donald Turnupseed.
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While Turnupseed had minor injuries and Wütherich sustained serious harm and needed surgery, Dean didn’t survive the collision. As it turns out, Dean had been given a speeding ticket before the crash occurred.