Was James Dean really responsible for the crash that killed him? As Star Magazine readers know, the Hollywood icon died on September 30, 1955 after a shocking road incident in California.
Now, REELZ’s new docuseries, Autopsy: James Dean, seeks to uncover the dark details behind his untimely passing.
“A month after James Dean’s death an inquest was held in San Luis Obispo, and they came back with a verdict of “accidental death with no criminal intent on behalf of the other driver, a 23-year-old student named Donald Turnupseed,” says Dr. Michael Hunter in the show teaser.
“What wasn’t widely reported was that an eyewitness said that James Dean wasn’t driving when the crash occurred,” he adds.
The 24-year-old was taken to the hospital after the crash, but was pronounced dead soon after. His mechanic, Rolf Wutherich also sustained grave injuries, but survived.
“There was an eyewitness, his name was Don Dooley, and he swore at the inquest, under oath, that it wasn’t James Dean behind the wheel but it was the person wearing the red shirt,” says Historian Lee Raskin in the clip.
Autopsy: James Dean airs Sunday, April 29 at 8:00 ET / PT on REELZ.
