The Life and Legend of Hollywood Icon James Dean

On September 30, 1955, James Dean set out for the Salinas road race with his mechanic, Rolf Wütherich, driving the Porsche. At approximately 5:45 p.m., while speeding down U.S. Route 466 near Cholame, California, a Ford Tudor driven by Donald Turnupseed turned left across his lane.

Dean couldn’t stop in time. The Porsche slammed into the other car, flipped in the air, and landed in a crumpled heap. Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 p.m. He was just 24 years old. The crash shocked the world. His legend, however, had only just begun. Hollywood had lost its brightest flame.