“Fast And Furious” Star Killed In Crash

Paul Walker, the star of the ‘‘Fast & Furious’’ movie series, died Saturday in a car crash that killed one other person outside of Los Angeles. He was 40.

Walker’s publicist Ame Van Iden confirmed the actor’s death Saturday afternoon. A statement on Walker’s Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend’s car, and that Walker was in the area to attend a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that speed was a factor in the crash.

Deputies found a Porsche Carrera GT engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia, north of Los Angeles. Two people who were found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported that the Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames. The fundraiser, to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan, took place at a nearby racecar shop. Attendees rushed to put out the flames with fire extinguishers to no avail.

‘‘All of us at Universal are heartbroken,’’ Universal Pictures, which has released the ‘‘Fast & Furious’’ franchise, said in a statement. ‘‘Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the ‘Fast and Furious’ films, and to countless fans.’’  (Associated Press)