Last week, Paul Walker’s 17-year-old daughter, Meadow received a $13 million [$US10 million] settlement from the estate of Roger Rodas, who was the driver involved in the tragic car accident that killed both himself and the Hollywood actor.
“The amount paid by the estate of Roger Rodas into a trust for Meadow Walker only covers a fraction of what her father would have earned as an international movie star had his life not tragically been cut short,” Meadow’s lawyer, Jeff Milam, said of the settlement which was reached back in November of 2014.
Meadow is the only child and sole heir to her father’s estate and according to her attorney, Jeff Milam, the funds will go into a trust for the teen.
From a happier time: Meadow shared this adorable throwback snap of her as a baby sharing cuddles with her now-deceased father.
The Fast and Furious actor was a passenger of Roger Rodas’ in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, when the car – which was reportedly travelling at the speed of 150kms per hour when it crashed into trees and a utility pole before exploding in Santa Clarita, a city Northwest of Los Angeles.
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News of the settlement comes just a week after a judge cleared automobile manufacturer, Porsche of any wrongdoing or involvement in the accident, after Roger’s widow Kristine claimed that defects to the car were the cause of the deaths.
A life lost: The charismatic father died at age 40.
However, the court’s ruling doesn’t necessarily mean that the case is closed, as Meadow has also filed her own, separate case against the luxury car brand.
“The issues in the cases are very different. The federal case was filed on behalf of Roger Rodas, who was the driver of the Porsche Carrera GT and was killed instantly upon impact,” her Attorney Jeff Milam said in a statement.
“Meadow’s father, Paul Walker, was a passenger in the car. He survived the crash but was trapped and burned to death because of the vehicle’s defects.”
“Meadow will continue to fight to hold Porsche accountable for selling a defective product that kills.”
A scene from the crash site shows the world’s love for the Fast and Furious actor.
As the case continues to unfold, never-before-seen has emerged of the actor smiling from ear to ear as he takes the wheel of a Nissan modified R35 GT-R in Japan.
In the clip, an ecstatic Paul can be seen test driving the vehicle and it’s sheer power. His love of motor sports is palpable as he whoops excitedly and laughs as the car reaches its full potential on the road.
“We share this as a tribute to Paul’s passion for cars, good humor, and a reminder of the gravity of such a loss,” GTChannel revealed in a statement.
Take a look at the rare footage below! Post continues after video…
“All proceeds from this video will be donated to the Paul Walker Foundation, a charity launched by Paul’s daughter as a tribute to his enduring legacy.”
According to the opening credits of the clip, the rare footage was discovered by the GTChannel in an office move.
The clip, which was uploaded to their YouTube channel on April 5, has since been viewed over 615,000 times.
17-year-old Meadow shares her father’s love of the ocean.
Since her father’s tragic death, the 17-year-old launched The Paul Walker Foundation, a charity who’s simple message is to “do good”.
Taking to Instagram on September 12 2014 – Paul’s birthday – Meadow published a stunning throwback snap with her dad alongside a heart-felt caption explaining her exciting new mission.
“Reflecting on my father, I found myself reflecting on his passions. His passion for the ocean, his passion for rescuing animals, his passion for helping people and his passion for spontaneous goodwill,” she penned.
Before explaining: “I wanted to start this foundation because I want to share that piece of him with the world. I want to share that part of him with others. I am tremendously proud to be launching The #PaulWalkerFoundation (@paulwalkerfdn) on his birthday. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my father. #DoGood.”
