JFK+50: Volume 5, No. 1729
ACTOR JAMES DEAN DIED IN CAR CRASH 60 YEARS AGO TODAY
Cholane, California (JFK+50) Sixty years ago today, September 30, 1955, movie actor James Dean* was killed in a car crash at an intersection here in Cholane.
The 24 year old actor was driving his racecar, a Porsche 550 Spyder, to a race to be held in Salinas. Although the driver of the other car, a Ford Tudor coupe, escaped with minor injuries, Dean's neck was broken and with other multiple injuries, he was pronounced DOA at Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital at 6:20 p.m.
The Porsche eventually came into the hands of car customizer George Barnes who displayed it at various automotive events. According to Fox News, however, the Porsche disappeared mysteriously en route from Miami, Florida to Los Angeles in 1960.
In 2005, an offer was made to pay $1 million to anyone who could produce the vehicle as their own. A Washington state man came forward and said that he knew that the car was hidden within the walls of a certain building, but added that he is not the owner of the building, or the car.
*James Byron Dean (1931-1955) was born in Marion, Indiana & moved to Santa Monica, CA. After his mother's death when he was 9, JBD moved back to Indiana to live with his aunt.
After graduating high school, Dean returned to California, attended Santa Monica College & UCLA but dropped out to pursue an acting career. Among his films are East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause.
SOURCE
"James Dean's Porsche found? Mystery man claims he knows where it is," by Gary Gastelu, September 29, 1015, Fox News, www.foxnews.com/
James Dean Memorial Junction
Site of Dean's Death
Photo by Piotr Flatau (2007)
