Walker death ‘sparks illegal racing’

YOUNG men and women are putting their lives at risk by driving dangerously on the roads in honour of late Fast and Furious star Paul Walker.

“Car meets”, which include drag racing, have been held around the world to honour Walker who died, along with his friend Roger Rodas last month when their car, a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, crashed into a light pole in Santa Clarita, California.

Several days later, car meets were held around the world, including in Durban, attracting hundreds of drivers with modified cars. Memorial car meets were also held at the Hollywood sites of some of the scenes from the movies, with people warning one another of police officials who were “gunning” for reckless drivers.

eThekwini Metro Police, meanwhile, are trying to clamp down on the illegal racing.

“This is one of the priority areas of our enforcement area. Every weekend there are deaths resulting from this lunacy, it just can’t go on,” said Metro Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi.

He said people caught drag racing would be criminally charged with reckless and negligent driving.

Kas Moodley, president of KwaZulu- Natal Motor Racing, said he had not been aware of any illegal drag racing events to remember Walker.

More car meets are expected to be held this weekend around the world, when Walker’s ashes are set to be interred at Hollywood’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park.