Are you a big “Fast and the Furious” fan? If so, then you’re not alone.
Authorities say more than 4,500 admirers of Paul Walker, the late star of the blockbuster muscle car franchise who passed away in a high-speed crash last week in Santa Clarita along with a companion, are planning to pay homage to the actor with a visit to the crash site on Sunday.
A Facebook event set up by SoCal Car Meets has attracted fans from several states who have confirmed plans to attend, many of whom intend to arrive in caravans.
The size of the impromptu memorial prompted the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the City of Santa Clarita to issue a traffic alert announcing several lane closures and diversions to compensate for the expected traffic.
“A large number of people have stated via social media their intentions to go to the site Sunday to memorialize the deaths of actor Paul Walker and [driver] Roger Rodas,” the statement by the two agencies reported.
The impromptu memorial is “not an event sanctioned” by either the city or the sheriff’s department. However, Santa Clarita residents are told to expect “an overwhelming” number of cars in the area.
Sheriff’s officials are expecting a flow of mourners all day, with the heaviest traffic occurring from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 8, traffic will be altered, making Kelly Johnson Parkway a one way street, west of Constellation Road, which will continue to Alta Vista Drive. Alta Vista Drive will be a one-way street, eastbound to Copperhill. There will be no westbound traffic on Alta Vista or Constellation Road. Local access to area businesses will be permitted during that time,” the alert states.
The memorial site is located at 256\90 Hercules St. in Valencia.
