FOREVER FROZEN AS THE TALENTED, MISUNDERSTOOD, REBELLIOUS YOUTH, JAMES DEAN REMAINS THE SYMBOL OF TEENAGE ANGST.
As if a warning of things to come, en route to Salinas, Dean was pulled over by police officers near Bakersfield around 3:30pm for speeding. Two hours later, around 5:30 p.m., they were driving westbound on what is now called State Route 46, when a 1950 Ford Tutor pulled out in front of them. The driver, twenty-three-year-old Donald Turnupseed, was traveling east and attempting to make a left turn onto Highway 41. Unfortunately, Turnupseed had already started to make his turn before he saw the roaring Porsche traveling quickly toward him. Without time to turn, the two cars smashed nearly head-on. The injuries among the three involved varied greatly. Turnupseed received only minor injuries. Rolf Wuetherich, the passenger in the Porsche, was thrown from the vehicle and suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg, but survived the crash. Dean, however, was killed in the accident. He was only 24-years-old. Hard to believe, and a fact often forgotten, East of Eden was the only James Dean film that had been released before his death. Following his passing, Rebel Without a Cause , the film for which Dean is best remembered, hit movie screens. Giant was also released after Dean’s death.
James Dean was already somewhat famous for his role in East of Eden but his death and the release of Rebel Without a Cause catapulted him to cult status. Forever frozen as the talented, misunderstood, rebellious youth, James Dean remains the symbol of teenage angst. Many car collectors wonder what happened to the smashed Porsche. After the accident, the crumpled car toured around the United States as part of a driver safety presentation. En route between two stops, the car disappeared. In 2005, Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois, offered $1 million to anyone who currently had the car. So far, the car has not resurfaced.
58 ] I D C M A G A Z I N E
Powered by FlippingBook