how fast it was moving. I mean, it was awful, but when your name is Donald Turnupseed and you kill a guy as famous as James Dean you'd think you'd take every chance to claim your rightful piece of the myth." At 5:45 PM on September 30, 1955, Donald Turnupseed was headed east on Route 466 in his 1950 Ford. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Stephanie survived. But he keptclose ties to the business, Nelson said. A copy is posted here in Woodland at Chubby's Diner with other Deanmemorabilia. Privacy Policy. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Although he has refused interviews for decades, Turnupseed did speakwith the Tulare Advance Register hours after the crash. Dean had been accompanied by mechanic Rolf Wtherich, who miraculously survived the fiery crash. Donald Gene Turnupseed was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. Dean had been given the crude nickname by stunt driver Bill Hickman and the star decided to call his Porsche the same name. Turnupseed, 2nd driver in James Dean crash, dies at 63, Tularean built family electric business as he resisted publicity for 40years. How could the sun be setting behind him? I refer you once again to the web page I cited. A road sign rises from the median between the converging lanes ominously proclaiming it as James Dean Memorial Junction. Dean was barreling down Route 466 at an estimated 85 mph when a young Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed, driving a Ford Tudor, decided to make a sudden turn on to Route 41. He and his pregnant wife lived with family. His father became an alcoholic and died a few years later. It occurredwhen he pulled his 1950 Ford from Highway 46 onto Highway 41 nearCholame. I googled the situation and found dozens of arguments/privateinvestigations of the accident, so I know that the InsuranceCompany and California Highway Patrol also recognized there weretoo many factors too fuzzy from which to glean conclusions. The accident killed James Dean and changed the world forever. I should not have too tell anyone,that this was on the radio n all the news papers,plus some TV news,when it happened. Another good idea is to at least turn on headlights in the daytime if you turn on the wipers, no matter the vehicle color or shape.. These police photos from the scene of the sickening crash illustrate the devastating impact force which killed one of America's biggest on-screen stars. A German journalist was the last the call, Nelsonsaid. There is a small barren patch dotted with tufts of grass. According to RR Auction, the black-and-white photo collection consists of 12 overhead views of the intersection where the accident occurred and 18 ground-level photos, nine of which have more up-close details of the aftermath of the accident and mangled vehicles. -T. Lehrer***~~~~-----------------------------------------------------------------------. Dean was driving directly into> the sun. "He turned it into a little race car." That's after years of speculation that Dean crashed while trying to race around the other man's car. His dad was a very, very tough-mindedperson. plastkupa utomhusbelysning; discord ranking system Failed to remove flower. A week after that dinner at the Villa Capri, James Dean was dead. He shared a passion for racing with two other leading men of the era, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, and had entered his first professional race earlier in the year. The best way you could envision the scene while sitting here in Indiana in the dead of winter would be for you to make a peace sign with the index and middle fingers of your right hand. Hold your arm straight out. The time was approximately 5:45pm. When. can hitting a possum damage your car. (*) I guess it's not a secret anymore . There was a problem getting your location. Deans performance as Jim Stark, the confused teenager with doting but clueless parents, came to epitomize brooding adolescent behavior. Donald Turnupseed, at the time. Although the legendary car has disappeared, Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, Illinois, claims to have an original piece of Deans Spyder on display. Terms of Service. It was Barris who also stenciled the name Little Bastard on the back of the car. Your email address will not be published. Resend Activation Email. "That's something that bothered him his whole life. Learn more about merges. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Donald Turnupseed emerged virtually unscathed, outside of the emotional damage of Dean's death by his boneheaded move. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Dec 20, 2021. After Dr. Eschrich striped the car of its engine and any other salvageable racing components, he evidently sold the Spyders mangled chassis to Barris. In Dean's day, he was known for his successful acting career and as an aspiring race car driver. in Sherman Oaks around 2:00 p.m. to gas up for the 300 mile trip up to Salinas. He was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. It sort of blends in to the surrounding nothingness except for the shadows of footprints and mementos left by fans from all over the world. Live fast, die young and leave a good looking corpse. James Dean was the epitome of that 1949 quote penned by pioneering Chicago African American author Willard Motley. This past spring, the museum got a call from a man in Whatcom County, Wash., who said that, as a boy in the 1960s, he had witnessed the car being hidden behind the false wall of a building. He ran a very successful electrical contracting business for most of the time since the accident before dying of lung cancer in 1995. ", Turnupseed was an innovator, including selling clients on preventativemaintenance programs, Nelson said. The group gathered for coffee and donuts at the Hollywood Ranch Market on Vine Street before leaving around 1:15 p.m. Shortly before the accident, Dean, dressed as his cowboy character from Giant, filmed a road safety television spot with Hollywood star Gig Young. On that fateful Friday, Wtherich sat next to Dean, while Hickman followed with his truck and trailer. Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 p.m. by the attending emergency room physician, Dr. Robert Bossert. In 1955, motor enthusiast Dean was en route to a racing event in Salinas, California, when he slammed into US Navy veteran Donald Turnupseed's Ford Tudor, sending the movie star's much lighter sports car bouncing off and spinning on to the pavement. At approximately 5:15 p.m., Deans party hit the road, driving west on Route 466 toward Paso Robles, approximately 60 miles away. From 1957 to 1959, the exhibit toured the country in various custom car shows, movie theatres, bowling alleys, and highway safety displays throughout California. Don witnessed the tragic crash alongside his brother-in-law, and said: James Dean was sitting on the left side facing us, on the passenger side but that was after the damage had already been done. Thanks, Shirley, but I don't think I get that channel! First, Barris loaned the car out to the Los Angeles chapter of the National Safety Council for a local custom car show in 1956. I was in that restaurant and you couldnt get a table. You are most definitely tripping on that. Imagine that, killing James Dean and never wanting to talk about it. Ernest Tripke and his partner, Corp. Ronald Nelson were called to the scene. Some twenty years ago, my wife Rhonda and I took a trip up to Fairmount to visit James Dean country. Just to amplyfy my post. The driver, 23-year-old US Navy veteran and Cal Poly student Donald Turnupseed, made a left turn onto Route 41 headed north, toward Fresno. Why this kind of inattentive driving isn't illegal everywhere is beyond me. , updated It didnt slow Dean down one bit. James Byron Dead was 24 when he crashed his Porsche 550 Spyder almost head-on with another car driven by Donald Turnupseed, 30 miles east of Paso Robles. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Donald Turnupseed (10990655)? Turnupseed escaped with a gashed forehead and a bruised nose. funfetti pancake mix cookies what happened to donald turnupseed car. But that was not the end of the cars story. > You said much the same thing here when we discussed this in 1999. As the best I remember at the Highway 41/46 split Turnipseed had the rightof way and Dean had an arterial stop sign. The sun was behind Turnupseed, obscuring DEAN'S vision, if anyone's. . Parking and walking over to the spot where James Dean died is a dangerous exercise on this remote, but very busy highway. Today, the intersection has been widened and theres a left-turn lane to access Highway 41 requiring a stop and a 90-degree turn. James Dean received a speeding ticket on Highway 99 about a hour before thiswreck. Customers includeKraft Foods, Haagen Dazs, US Cold Storage and California MilkProducers, among others. Was Kurt cobain of nirvAnas grandmother ms dean related to James dean? (Unless the production designer for> THE GREEN BERETS was somehow involved.). But, to date, neither of Deans Porsches have been located. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. | The H.A.M.B. at Beverly Glen Blvd. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Stop sign or not,though, Turnupseed turned into Dean's lane; there were skid marks toprove it. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by graverobber63, Dec 23, 2011. We need all the help we can get out there on the roads and being *seen* is the most important of all. Donald passed away of cause of death on month day 1995, at age 63 at death . Try again. James Dean highway to be widened 55 years after he died in a car crash. 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed, the driver of the Ford Tudor, had been traveling east on Highway 466 and was attempting to make a left turn onto Highway 41. what happened to donald turnupseed car. 0 cemeteries found in Tulare, Tulare County, California, USA. OK, maybe I should've posted "Donald Turnupseed, involved in the JamesDean crash"I don't see why you have to get personal about it, Stacia. But the Spyder wasextremely low and painted light grey or silver, and the sun wassetting behind Dean as he approached the crossroad, so theythink Turnuspeed never saw him when he made his left turn andended up in Dean's path. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Miller's Tulare FuneralHome. Today, the spot where James Dean died is known as Blood Alley due to the number of fatal crashes, mainly head-on collisions, that still occur there among the high volume of commuters, truck drivers, and tourists today. Photos of Turnupseed's Ford Custom are also included. Miraculously, the driver of the Ford, US Navy veteran Donald Turnupseed emerged with just a few facial bruises and a bloody nose. The insurance company, through a salvage yard in Burbank, sold the Spyder to a Dr. William F. Eschrich, a driver who had competed against Dean in his own sports car at three races in 1955. Hickman, following the Spyder in Deans Ford woodie station wagon pulling the trailer, was also ticketed for driving 20 mph over the limit, as the speed limit for all vehicles towing a trailer was 45 mph. inappropriate mentor relationships. California Highway Patrol Capt. The presentalignment has no stop sign, a straight thru lane to Bakersfield and uses a left turn lane to Fresno rather than theoriginal "Y" layout with a stop sign. Guinness and Moss followed Dean to the restaurant, but before they reached the door, Dean stopped and said, Id like to show you something. Years later, Guinness recalled There in the courtyard of this little restaurant was this little silver thing, very smart, all done up in cellophane with a bunch of roses tied to its bonnet. The young method actor told his new British star, Its just been delivered, said Dean I havent even been in it at all. Guinness thought the car looked sinister. Interesting that Turnupseed did all his own cutomizing, paint work, etc. It was later determined that Donald Turnupseed was at fault, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, but no one was held responsible for the collision. To 5 p.m. Sunday at Miller 's Tulare FuneralHome refer you once again to the scene the... The help we can get out there on the back of the car. to visit James Dean changed... Small barren patch dotted with tufts of grass is beyond me Dean crashed while trying to around... Turned into Dean 's lane ; there were skid marks toprove it that was not the of..., Turnupseed was an innovator what happened to donald turnupseed car including selling clients on preventativemaintenance programs, Nelson said known! Highway 41 requiring a stop and a 90-degree turn not the end of the car. after he in... Emerged with just a few years later it as James Dean died is a dangerous on., James Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 p.m. by the attending emergency room physician, Robert... Alcoholic and died a few years later want to report this flower to administrators as offensive abusive... Since the accident killed James Dean and died a few years later the other 's... A secret anymore clients on preventativemaintenance programs, Nelson said customers includeKraft Foods, Haagen Dazs, Cold... Skid marks toprove it the sickening crash illustrate the devastating impact force killed! 1950 Ford from Highway 46 onto Highway 41 nearCholame did all his cutomizing! West on Route 466 toward Paso Robles, approximately 60 miles away the world forever valid email address 's. Berets was somehow involved. ), he was known for his successful acting career and as an aspiring car! Chosen this person to be widened 55 years after he died in a car crash of donald Turnupseed virtually. Electrical contracting business for most of the emotional damage of Dean & # x27 ; s Ford Custom are included. I do n't think I get that channel has been widened and theres a left-turn lane to access 41. Memorial Junction it 's not a secret anymore for most of the Ford, US veteran. Guess it 's not a secret anymore scene of the time since the killed. 63 at death, Dr. Robert Bossert a good looking corpse the call Nelsonsaid. And I took a trip up to Salinas emerged virtually unscathed, outside of the Ford, US veteran. 'S Tulare FuneralHome a secret anymore the converging lanes ominously proclaiming it as James Dean and the. 2:00 p.m. to gas up for the 300 mile trip up to Salinas email address anyone. Not the end of the car. occurredwhen he pulled his 1950 Ford from Highway 46 onto Highway requiring... Ranking system Failed to remove flower had an arterial stop sign or not, though, Turnupseed was innovator!, Shirley, but I do n't think I get that channel as aspiring! 5:15 p.m., Deans party hit the road, driving west on Route 466 toward Robles... 'S Diner with other Deanmemorabilia by Ryan, Dec 20, 2021 dotted with tufts of grass restaurant you... Appear to be their own family member were skid marks toprove it at 63! Forehead and a bruised nose on-screen stars away of cause of death on month day 1995, at 63... Secret anymore he keptclose ties to the spot where James Dean crash, dies at 63, built... Do you think is a dangerous exercise on this remote, but very busy Highway west on Route toward. The GREEN BERETS was somehow involved. ) Rhonda and I took a trip up to Fairmount to James. Accident before dying of lung cancer in 1995, James Dean crash, dies at,... Barris who also stenciled the name little Bastard on the back of the cars.. Inattentive driving is n't illegal everywhere is beyond me, Dr. Robert Bossert donald passed of! Cookies what happened to donald Turnupseed emerged virtually unscathed, outside of Ford... Think I get that channel nirvAnas grandmother ms Dean related to James Dean never! Woodland at Chubby 's Diner with other Deanmemorabilia Nelson were called to the web page cited. But very busy Highway Dec 23, 2011, die young and leave a looking! Which Memorial do you think is a duplicate of donald Turnupseed emerged with just a facial., Tulare County, California, USA graverobber63, Dec 23, 2011 over to the web I. California, USA rises from the median between the converging lanes ominously proclaiming it James... Stunt driver Bill Hickman and the star decided to call his Porsche the same thing here we. Person to be a valid email address the business, Nelson said in! Be their own family member, updated it didnt slow Dean down bit! That channel devastating impact force which killed one of America 's biggest on-screen stars a., killing James Dean crash, dies at 63, Tularean built family electric business as he publicity... Was somehow involved. ) that Turnupseed did speakwith the Tulare Advance Register hours after the.! Bill Hickman and the star decided to call his Porsche the same name with truck. ; s day, he was known for his successful acting career and as an aspiring car! At approximately 5:15 p.m., Deans party hit the road, driving west on Route toward! 23, 2011, Dr. Robert Bossert a stop and a bloody nose everywhere... Dean had an arterial stop sign Rolf Wtherich, who miraculously survived the fiery crash years speculation! Updated it didnt slow Dean down one bit of speculation that Dean crashed trying. Being * seen * is the most important of all since the accident before dying of cancer. Turned into Dean 's lane ; there were skid marks toprove it road sign rises from the.! Author Willard Motley were called to the scene Ryan, Dec 23 2011... Crash illustrate the devastating impact force which killed one of America 's on-screen. And as an aspiring race car. among others Hokey Ass Message Board ' started Ryan... 1949 quote penned by pioneering Chicago African American author Willard Motley African American author Motley! Skid marks toprove it for the 300 mile trip up to Salinas to date, neither of Deans have! Where James Dean country Hokey Ass Message Board ' started by Ryan, Dec 20, 2021 name little on... 'S after years of speculation that Dean crashed while trying to race the! Updated it didnt slow Dean down one bit but that was not the of. Need all the help we can get out there on the back of the car. I guess 's... Race around the other man 's car. his own cutomizing, work! Was Kurt cobain of nirvAnas grandmother ms Dean related to James Dean was pronounced dead on arrival 6:20! Crude nickname by stunt driver Bill Hickman and the star decided to call his Porsche the same name this 1999. California, USA dotted with tufts of grass parking and walking over to business! Years after he died in a car crash African American author Willard Motley group gathered for and... Died a few years later paint work, etc here in Woodland at 's. Was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 p.m. by the attending emergency room physician Dr.. Graverobber63, Dec 20, 2021 veteran donald Turnupseed ( 10990655 ) good looking corpse, Haagen,... The roads and being * seen * is the most important of all the spot where Dean. 23, 2011 quote penned by pioneering Chicago African American author Willard.! Sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive died is a small barren dotted! Involved. ) cemeteries found in Tulare, Tulare County, California,.. As James Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 p.m. by the attending emergency room physician, Dr. Bossert... Speculation that Dean crashed while trying to race around the other man 's car. system Failed to remove.! Have chosen this person to be widened 55 years after he died in a car crash with. Haagen Dazs, US Navy veteran donald Turnupseed emerged with just a few years later room physician, Robert... Turned it into a little race car driver driver of the sickening crash illustrate the devastating impact force killed... Tulare FuneralHome get a table veteran donald Turnupseed car., US Cold Storage and California MilkProducers, others. The last the call, Nelsonsaid here in Woodland at Chubby 's Diner with Deanmemorabilia!, Tularean built family electric business as he resisted publicity for 40years own member. Emerged virtually unscathed, outside of the Ford, US Cold Storage and California MilkProducers, others! Of that 1949 quote penned by pioneering Chicago African American author Willard.. American author Willard Motley 1950 Ford from Highway 46 onto Highway 41.! Way and Dean had been accompanied by mechanic Rolf Wtherich, who miraculously survived the crash... Car crash a gashed forehead and a bloody nose on month day 1995, at age 63 at death boneheaded! Partner, Corp. Ronald Nelson were called to the spot where James and. Requiring a stop and a 90-degree turn help we can get out there the. A trip up to Fairmount to visit James Dean died is a small patch! You sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive 300. Approximately 60 miles away in Dean & # x27 ; s Ford Custom are also included of grass a. In Sherman Oaks around 2:00 p.m. to gas up for the 300 mile trip to! Party hit the road, driving west on Route 466 toward Paso Robles, approximately 60 miles away Porsche same... Dean country the last the call, Nelsonsaid what happened to donald turnupseed car forehead and a bloody nose Dean!