The TERRIFYING Last Minutes of James Dean

The TERRIFYING Last Minutes of James Dean
On September 30, 1955, James Dean and his factory-trained mechanic, Rolf Wutherich, were at Competition Motors in Hollywood. They were preparing the "Little Bastard" for the upcoming weekend sports car races at Salinas, California. "Little Bastard" was the affectionate nickname of James Dean's beloved sports car, a Porsche 550 Spyder.

Initially, James Dean had a plan to tow his Porsche 550 Spyder using his Ford Country Squire Station Wagon. To execute this plan, he enlisted the help of his friend Bill Hickman, who was not only a stuntman for Warner Bros but also an experienced driver.

Additionally, a professional photographer from Collier's magazine was accompanying them, as he intended to capture the story of James Dean for a feature article.

However, in preparation for the race, James Dean's Porsche 550 Spyder had not met the required mileage. Rolf Wütherich, James Dean's trusted mechanic, proposed a solution to address this issue. He suggested that James Dean take the car on the drive to Salinas, California, to accumulate more time behind the wheel.

Around 5:15 PM, James Dean resumed his journey towards Paso Robles, California. With a surge of adrenaline, he accelerated his car, leaving Bill Hickman and the photographer behind in the station wagon. James Dean's passion for speed and his desire to push the limits were evident as he effortlessly maneuvered through the winding roads.

James Dean and Rolf Wütherich were transported to the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital in the same ambulance. However, the outcome was devastating for James Dean, as he was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:20 PM by the emergency room physician.

The severity of his injuries was reflected in the cause of death listed on his death certificate. According to the death certificate, James Dean's cause of death was attributed to a broken neck, multiple fractures of the upper and lower jaw, both arms broken, and internal injuries.