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14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents

Cars are one of the most necessary, not to mention comfortable, methods of transport we use. It would be impossible to get to work, school, or go on vacation without access to a car in some parts of the world. Some people love to drive fast, others who enjoy renovating vintage vehicles, and those who just want a reliable run-around.

Of course, as much as they’re great to look at, practical, and fun to drive, cars can also be downright dangerous. Road accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and even death in most nations. You probably know someone who was hurt in a car accident or has even been in one yourself.

And it’s not just us regular folk that run into car trouble. Watch on to find out all the gruesome details about how some of the world’s most famous singers, actors, and even royals died in car crashes. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the 14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents.

Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn was a member of the infamous Jackass, a group of bawdy young men that rose to film and television stardom playing pranks on each other and sometimes other hapless victims. Living a life of doing dangerous stunts day in day out and getting away with it makes you feel untouchable. As it turns out, however, Dunn wasn’t. Sadly, he died when he lost control of his pricey Porsche while driving at a dangerous 130 miles an hour.

Randy Savage

Anyone who knows wrestling remembers Randy “Macho Man” Savage. The showman is renowned as one of the best wrestlers of all time–he has an astonishing 29 championship wins under his belt and a lengthy career to boot. Tragically, Savage died young at just 58, with still a lot of life ahead of him. He had a heart attack when driving his Jeep Wrangler with his wife and crashed into a tree. At first, investigators thought the crash killed him, but it was later believed to be heart failure.

Randy “Macho Man” Savage is, without a doubt, one of the most famous and successful wrestlers of all time. He’s thought of as one of the best wrestlers ever and won 29 championships over his career. As good a wrestler as he was, he was an even better showman. Savage died after suffering a heart attack while driving his Jeep Wrangler with his wife in Florida. He died after crashing into a tree when he was 58 years old. It was initially thought he died in the collision, but health professionals later theorized that he died of a heart attack.

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Paul Walker

It was hard for people to believe that the star of one of the most celebrated car films of all time would die… in a car crash. But that’s precisely what happened to Paul Walker, the young hotshot in the top-rated film franchise, The Fast and the Furious. Walker drove his car around a bend somewhere between 80 and 90 miles an hour when it spun out. The car was totaled, and he didn’t survive either. It was rumored Walker was actually drifting when he crashed, but no one knows for sure.

Princess Diana

It was a tragedy that echoed around the world when Princess Diana died. She was probably one of the most loved women in recent history, so her death in 1997 shocked everyone. At the time, paparazzi hounds were widely touted as the cause of the crash. Apparently, Diana’s driver was trying to outrun the flashing hoards. But later investigations revealed the driver was actually drunk and, as such, driving much faster than he should have been. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the 14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents.

James Dean

James Dean, the star of Rebel Without a Cause and other 1950s teen movies, is still to this day thought of as one of America’s heroic heartthrobs. That could be because he died when he was a tender 24-years-old, cementing his status as a legend. Though he was an experienced race car driver, his live fast, die young persona caught up with him, and he lost his life in a fatal car accident in California.

Sam Kinison

He was loud. He was politically incorrect–even for the 80s. And that’s how most people remember comedian Sam Kinison. He was just rising to popularity at the time of his death, with many commentators picking him for one of the great jokesters of his day. Unfortunately, it was never to be. Kinison was driving his car when he had a head-on collision with an alcohol-impaired 17-year-old in a pickup truck. The driver was handed a charge of vehicular manslaughter, with many upset that he only received a year‘s probation for the crime. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the 14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents.

Falco

Austrian pop singer Falco rose to fame worldwide in the 1980s with hits like Rock Me Amadeus and Der Kommissar (which, incidentally, some claim was sampled by MC Hammer for Can’t Touch This). However, his was a star that burnt bright but short. He was touring the Dominican Republic when the car he was driving hit a bus. Testing revealed that he had been under the influence of copious amounts of booze and cocaine at the time of the crash. In fact, he struggled with addiction for much of his career. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the 14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents.

Linda Lovelace

While Linda Lovelace is best known for her role in Deep Throat, which is one of the most famous adult films of all time, she regretted the decision for much of her life. In fact, she later revealed that her husband had coerced her into acting in porn by threatening her physically. Lovelace went on to become a born-again Christian and staunch anti-adult film industry advocate. In 2002, she lost consciousness after a car accident, and her family made the tough decision to take her off life support.

Grace Kelly

Before Grace Kelly became a princess, she was an incredibly popular film star, renowned for her acting ability as much as her beauty and charm. In Monaco, she was crowned a princess, and sadly, in Monaco, she would also die. While driving with her daughter, she had a stroke and lost control of the car. The car veered off the side of the road, somersaulting over a cliff. While her daughter thankfully survived the crash, Grace Kelly perished when her husband made the enormously difficult decision to take off life support.

Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield is another beauty that sadly died at a tender age. An actress, nightclub entertainer, singer, and a one-time Playboy Playmate, the young star was just starting to reach the pinnacle of her career when a car crash cut it short. She was driving alone on the highway when she smashed into the back of a tractor-trailer. On the hunt for sensation, many news stories reported that Mansfield was decapitated in the accident, but this was later proven to be untrue. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the 14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents.

Sylvester Ritter

Another famous wrestler who met a grisly end in a car crash was Sylvester Ritter, also known as The Junkyard Dog. When his professional football dreams died in college, he entered wrestling to become one of the most beloved athletes in the circuit. His charisma made him a great performer, and he was still wrestling right up to his death in middle age. The 45-year-old was returning home after watching his daughter’s high school graduation when he crashed his car. Tragically, it’s believed that he fell asleep at the wheel.

Lisa Lopes

Lisa Lopes was a member of the popular 1990s girl band, TLC, whose hit song Waterfalls broke hearts and the charts around the world. Her stage name was “Left Eye.” She was also notorious for not being able to keep out of trouble. At one point, she was even arrested for arson after she tried to burn down her football boyfriend’s mansion. Lopes met her end in Honduras when she swerved the car she was driving to avoid hitting a truck. Her overcorrecting caused the vehicle to flip, killing her instantly. Thankfully, the other people in the vehicle survived. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the 14 Celebrities Who Died in Car Accidents.

Cliff Burton

Remember when world-famous band Metallica was touring Europe for Master of Puppets? True fans mourn the tour as a fatal one for bass player Cliff Burton. The band was traveling in their tour bus when it suddenly skidded off the road and tipped over. Burton was thrown out of the window, only to be then crushed by the bus as it fell over. What an awful way to go! At first, rumors flew that the bus driver was drunk, but investigators denied the claims, and the driver was let off the hook.

Duane Allman

What is it with the number four? Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band was taken from the world of rock at just 24-years-old. He was a talented guitarist in his day, with Rolling Stone Magazine naming him second only to the legendary Jimi Hendrix. Allman was speeding along on his motorcycle when he swerved to avoid hitting a truck. When he came off his bike, he was still alive, but he died later at the hospital. Imagine what would have become of this rising star had he lived to play guitar another day?

Given the dangers of a fatal crash, do you think celebrities should be allowed to drive themselves around? Or do you think it’s better if they leave that job up to professional drivers? Join the heated debate in the comment section below. If you found this video scintillating, be sure to give it a thumbs up and share it far and wide. And if you’re new here, hit that subscribe button Facts Verse channel.

Written by Alex Carson

Alex Carson is a seasoned writer and cultural historian with a passion for the vibrant and transformative decades of the 1960s and 1970s. With a background in journalism and a deep love for music, film, and politics, Alex brings a unique perspective to the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment.

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