James Dean precise crash location from Google Earth

[@rickloera9468]

Drove the last half of James Dean's final drive on the 60th anniversary of his death. We started at the last place he stopped for gas and refreshments. Saw a bunch of people gathered there. They even had a guy dressed like James Dean driving a replica of his car. We decided to follow the group who was tracing Dean's final day. They started at Competition Motors where Dean picked up the Porsche. They were doing the trip in real time based on every where Dean went that day. We followed them as far as Paso Robles where Dean was supposed to stop and eat dinner. They completed their journey in Salinas, California. We stopped at the crash site that you mentioned in the video. We also went to the memorial and finally to another memorial in Chalome, California about a mile from the crash site. Took lots of pictures and hung around for about an hour then headed off. Glad we ran into this group of people. We all showed up for the same reason, even though some of us didnt know one another. We were all there for the same reason, to remember this great movie star. We just kind of lucked out and showed up at the right place and the right time and my family and I got to participate in the most important part of the James Dean last drive celebration.

[@The22on]

You had a cool adventure. Lucky you came upon those people.

[@ThePFRG]

@Mark Gibson Get over yourself, kid

[@jaysantos536]

Should of had the dude simulate the collision scene. That would have been cool...

[@Enes-wj5xq]

@@jaysantos536 And seeing actually people getting killed, nice.

[@jonathanwoods9843]

I went to the gathering at the JD memorial in Cholame in 2005. There was one guy there who was dressed as James Dean with the classic Rebel red jacket, t-shirt, jeans, and sunglasses. Everything he was wearing wasn't LIKE what Dean wore, it was EXACTLY the same as James Dean's clothing. And he looked JUST LIKE James Dean. His height, build, the color of his skin, the shape of his face, his hair... He fully played the character, too, and never broke character. EVERY movement and inflection was Dean's! He smoked cigarettes just like Dean. I spoke to him, and he responded just like Jimmy. Even standing right next to him, I really couldn't tell that it wasn't James Dean himself! It was incredible.

[@jacquelinedixon6438]

He is buried here in Indiana, about 20 miles from my house, doesnt matter what day it is or the weather, there is always people at his gravesite,you see liscense plates from all over the US, amazing.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Jacqueline Dixon I didn’t know that. Thank you for sharing!

[@jacquelinedixon6438]

Forrest Haggerty Every september they hold a James Dean festival in his hometown of fairmount In, You can visit the farm he was raised on, there is a museum there, people from as far as Australia come to this, i once saw flowers on his grave from Elizabeth Taylor.

[@jacquelinedixon6438]

Susan B i knew a lady that went to school with him, and i have met some of his relatives, its been years since i went to one if the festivals the town has every year, think i might visit it this year, have a good day.

[@jacquelinedixon6438]

Susan B Years ago i worked in kokomo, at a Drs office , there was.a lady that was a patient there, she graduated with him, next time she came in she brought her yearbook, it wad cool looking at it, she had alot of good memories .

[@TXPRiNCEZZ09]

I was wondering if that festival still was happening...I've always wanted to go see his grave and see all I could, but was unsure if people were allowed and if the museum was still there/open. I'd absolutely love to visit!

[@pancho7159]

I was gonna give this video 20 seconds to see if it would hold my attention. Well, I watched the whole thing...nice presentation & narration.

[@1thepner]

Outstanding job on putting this together. Well-told, easy to follow description. Thanks! Tony in Oregon*

[@Charles010]

Thank you for putting together this interesting and informative account of Deans last known movements. Using Google Earth and photo's from 55 add to the interest and offers greater clarity of then and now. Clear and concise narration throughout. Great job.

[@althunder4269]

12:55 the mechanic was conscious after the collision. There are photos of him at the crash where he is lifting up his head and apparently according to witnesses there at that time asking about Dean's condition. There is another KZbin video where someone pinpointed the exact traffic ticket location. Overall, a very good analysis by Forrest of this event.

[@Brace67]

The other occupant of Dean’s Ford station wagon was photographer Sanford Roth. He was accompanying Jimmy to photograph him at the races in Salinas for Look magazine. The color photo of Dean at the gas station was taken by Sanford Roth but it was not the last one. At least two other black and white photos were taken by Roth of the Porsche 550 Spyder and its two occupants after they left the gas station and were back on the road again. Roth took them from the Ford station wagon he was a passenger in which was being driven by Bill Hickman, a stunt driver and friend of Jimmy’s. At the accident scene Roth took photos of Dean on the ambulance stretcher being carried by two attendants to the waiting ambulance. He had been covered by a blanket. He also took photos of the wreaked Porsche and Dean’s mechanic laying on the ground next to it while the guy who hit Dean’s car, Donald Turnipseed looks on.

[@richardturner6981]

Thanks, excellent video. James Dean, gone way too soon. RIP Mr. Dean.

[@jmc32007]

I heard Dean's last words were "That guy sees us right?" Dean's accident reminds me to drive carefully in the setting sun

[@The22on]

If Dean really says that (about the Ford driver seeing his Porsche), Dean should have slowed down. If he wasn't sure if the guy was gonna stop, why didn't Dean play it safe? Oh, yea, his life attitude was to NOT play anything safe. He was a race car driver practicing on a public road. If Dean was always that way, it was almost inevitable he would get in an accident. That powerful little go kart of a car, the Spyder, has no safety features. It's a pure race machine. There's not one screw on that car that's there for anything but racing. I remember my dad's big Buick. It was a big, heavy car. I'm sure the Ford was heavy steel also. The aluminum body of a small race car is no match for detroit iron.

[@Oumpah-Pah]

@@The22on yes, this accident could have been prevented with common sense. I am guessing that in 1955 this road had cars come by once every thirty mins. and you could see one coming from 'miles' away. so why not slow the f... down. he had to see that the other dude was not going to stop and continue on his turn. just because you have the right of way does not mean you should let your guard down.

[@bearflagmercantile8113]

Just a thought, who would have heard him say that? Dean died and his mechanic never (to my knowledge) spoke about the accident. Just a speculation not trying to be argumentative.

[@angelacase2331]

You can never assume another driver will see you. Always assume they will do something stupid.

[@billmiller7138]

"He's got to stop"

[@cliffordstjames9859]

Just think if he wasn't pulled over by the highway patrolman maybe that might have screwed up the timing of his fate?

[@boxing9763]

Clifford St James When it's your time to go, it's your time to go.

[@DexterHaven]

That should be on every box of Depends. @@boxing9763

[@tardisruthwood2772]

He still might of died on that road at a diffeent place. Maybe, if he wasn't speeding, Turnupseed would have made that turn way before James Dean ever arrived.

[@plutoniusis]

I do agree , is total bizarre how time played critical rule in case of James Dean tragic accident , we are talking about les a minute, if that guy turned left just few seconds before James arrived , it is proof over again that destiny is engineered ! It is very sad he was gone way to soon , he was promising young fellow and good actor , RIP James !

[@scottt3100]

Just think, if my Aunt had balls, she’d be confused on which public restroom to use.

[@moonlanding-69]

The Memorial is place so as to not impede traffic or cause another accident.

[@hughdismuke4703]

Yeah I was kinda thinking the same thing.

[@JohnJSteinbeck]

This is the clearest overview of what happened, from when James left his home, the stops he made, and finally a brilliantly detailed explanation of the crash site. Excellent work and an insightful location maps and photos. Thank you.

[@wilburbonzo]

6:50 Lance Reventlow was the son of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. He was later married to Jill St. John, and also died young in a plane crash in 1972.

[@sisterluke]

Jill St. John went on to marry Robert Wagner, at least I think that's the same woman.

[@kathrynj.hernandez8425]

@@sisterluke Plot thickens. Robert Wagner was married to Natalie Wood. She drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in California in November 1981 after she went missing from the Splendour, her family's yacht. Also aboard that night were Captain Dennis Davern, Wagner, and fellow actor, Christopher Walken. The next day, Natalie was found floating in the water wearing a red down jacket and flannel nightgown. After a two-week investigation, the death ruled an accident. But, in 2011, the LA County Sheriff's Department reopened the death investigation. In 2012 the Los Angeles Coroner's Office amended the death certificate, changing the manner of death from an accidental drowning to "drowning and other undetermined factors." Wagner was named Person of Interest in the case.

[@davidmoser3535]

@@kathrynj.hernandez8425

[@davidmoser3535]

@@kathrynj.hernandez8425 Jim Morrison and Amelia Erhart were also aboard

[@ag4allgood]

Great job pointing out the places in the last hours of James Dean's life. That 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder was quite the car back in those days. Only 1212 pounds with 108 HP 4 cylinder engine the car was super lightweight. The Big Ford Mr Turnupseed was driving weighed probably 4 to 5 times more in weight. Also after the crashed 550 Spyder was shown in Florida 1960 the transport truck crashed killing the truck driver but the wrecked body parts of his 550 were stolen off the truck. So the wrecked 550 Spyder is gone somewhere out there !

[@idreamofjonny5492]

Hi Forrest, I’ve been to the crash site several times. The original roadbed is still in the middle of the intersection. When the rains hit hard, it is visible. Check it out now and you will see the roadbed matches the same road stretch that is still visible from coming down Polonio Pass. I actually walked the old highway 466 when I was 16, 33 years ago. The car came to rest in the middle of the west bound connecter lane from the 41 to 46. The memorial and intersection is a must for James Dean fans.

[@helenpierce-lamoureux3124]

I appreciate your presentation! The photo's, time and dates, your descriptions and progressive narration certainly made sense and one can nearly feel themselves IN James Dean's 'day' as we moved along with him through this presentation. Bless his heart and this makes me, for one, feel closer to this gifted person many of us did/do not know personally but do feel more so now.

[@anti-communistpatriot2791]

Sixty five years since his passing, and he's still, deeply missed.

[@jaysantos536]

Not really. Just another gay to most people.

[@fernandomaron87]

@@jaysantos536 Nah, he's missed and respected by pretty much every actor in the world, from Jack Nicholson, to Al Pacino, all the best ones quote him as an inspiration. That's a lot for a guy who lived only 24 years and died in the 50's.

[@jean-jacquescortes9500]

I saw again Rebel without cause some months ago. It still a good movie. Two future legends of Hollywood in the same movie : James Dean and Nathalie Wood.

[@jc4evur661]

@@jaysantos536 He's missed more than you.

[@drumdad54sdl47]

Very well presented & narrated. Thank you! It's difficult to imagine exactly what took place that tragic day by just reading accounts; seeing this makes it much clearer.

[@TheFredismShow]

Looking at the old black and white photos of the intersection of CA SR 46 and CA SR 41, I think you’ve made an assumption that the 41 did not flow as smoothly into the 46 as it probably did. You indicated a little hook south at the very bottom of the 41. But the photos show a very smooth contour of the transition from the 41 to the 46. So I don’t think his wrecked car ended up in what is now the center area of the dirt triangle as you supposed. One has to realize that both of these roads were very narrow two-lane roads at the time, and that as can be seen at a lot of these early intersections of the time, minor roads were made to “peel” away from other roads. Only later would they reduce the fluidity of the transition in order to create a stop for the intersecting road as a means to make the left turns a little safer. For instance, northbound Union to Chester in Bakersfield. Or Southbound Van Nuys Blvd to Chandler in Van Nuys. So I think you can follow the curvature of the 41 better to imagine it’s intersection flow into the 46.

[@shanew.williams]

Excellent work ! I really enjoy historic road videos that have been well researched with photos & aerials & showing the roads "then" versus now" etc.

[@BikingVikingHH]

5:00 Goddamn, that palm tree hasn’t grown at all in 60 years!

[@diemman70]

𝕮𝖚𝖈𝕶 𝕮𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖗 You should try watering it.

[@mannfan12]

I noticed that too except when I realized the older photo was not from 60 years ago. was much more recent.

[@3777177]

You achieved exceptional clarity and explanation of Dean's crash.

[@paulkremastiotis6296]

Thank you for your effort,u basically took me to the scene , I suppose they placed the memorial at a safe distance to possibly avoid some fan meeting the same fate as Dean:)

[@45RPM45]

That's probably right. But, if he was travelling at a very high rate of speed, it could be POSSIBLE the car made it to where the marker is now?

[@joseventura714]

Take that road every day to get to work I never see no one stop there and the car didn't stop there the pictures of the crash are I the last gas station

[@baileyreport.]

Certainly, the perfect video for anyone seeking reliable information about his last fews hours of life. The attention to detail is excellent and easily understood. Pat yourself on the back with both hands.

[@lisaterry9496]

You do such a nice job with your videos. So well researched, compelling, and done in a manner that is still very respectful to the people involved. Given the area where you seem to live, have you ever thought of doing one of your videos on the death of Thelma Todd? An old Hollywood 'who dunnit,' (was it a suicide, or a mob hit?) and the homes/ area remain still relatively the same as they were in the Pacific Palisades. I used to live next door to where it happened and there is quite a bit of access that would work well with how you did your Nicole Simpson / Sharon Tate video. You completely need to build what you are doing into a series for Netflix :). Keep up the excellent work!

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Lisa Terry I’m going to look into the Thelma Todd story. I’ve never heard of it, so thank you!

[@jasonberry170]

I completely agree, great job!!

[@StuntPosse]

@@jasonberry170 A lot of good info, yet Mr. Haggerty can't learn to pronounce "Porsche" correctly? It's pronounced "Pour- sha".

[@clifftaylor6864]

Amazing! I was thinking of Thelma Todd today!

[@clifftaylor6864]

@@forresthaggertychannel4301 have a look at Kenneth Anger's "Hollywood Babylon" book, nice write up on Thelma Todd, James Dean too. A lot of fascinating old Hollywood.

[@frankcalenzo4741]

Forrest, as usual, you did a great job in detailing the events of James Dean's last day on earth. As a teenager in the mid-50's, Dean was a boyhood hero of mine and I remember wanting my mother to buy me a red jacket that summer to wear with a white t-shirt and jeans just like he did in Rebel Without a Cause.

[@simonz28]

who knew that google earth could draw such emotion

[@mango8918]

Another fantastic forensic accounting of a piece of history. Your videos are truly unique and bring the viewer along on a trip thru significant events that have been truly molded into our memories. Even though I'm late in finding your channel, I hope that there are many more to come! Thank you.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Mango891 yes, there are more coming!:))

[@LinusKnight]

LOVE these Google Earth/Hollywood history stuff!!! Please do more!!!

[@FromMyEyesToYours]

I was born that day. 4 hours and 8 minutes after Dean's death, and I like to think that maybe our souls passed each other in those moments of incoming and outgoing of transit. And though I was born 1, 000 miles away, oddly enough I have ended up living somewhat near that intersection and have passed through it countless times. The actual James Dean memorial is located about a mile west of the intersection, directly in the little roadside establishment of Cholame. Part of the memorial structure is a polished metal mirror, and if you face the mirror it directly reflects back up the road to the location of the crash. I have stopped many, many times when passing through with a bottle of Windex and a clean towel to spruce up the memorial site and try to keep it nice (I've even waxed it a couple of times). Anyway, just per chance, I happened to be traveling that road on my 30th birthday, around 10 minutes before the time of crash. Knowing it was the 30th anniversary, the highway patrol had set up flares and warnings well ahead of the location from both directions (I was coming from the west). There were scores of people scattered everywhere in the area on foot, their cars parked along adjacent roadsides and fields, though it was clear that most of them were trying to gather to stand on the spot where Dean's car had come to rest. I just slowly weaved through the maze and went on my way. I'm sure it still happens every September 30th, but that was the only time I have ever been there at that moment, and it was very nice to see so many people there honoring Dean.

[@organboi]

yes, your souls could have passed that day, even though I am convinced a soul doesn't enter the body at the time of birth. Your soul entered your body at time of conception. But you could have been very aware of all departing souls that day or before. Or even after. An infant probably has extremely heightened spiritual awareness. I like your story very much.

[@rad-sw8fz]

According to an old aerial photo, the intersection was right over that little creek, where the current transition lane from 41 meets 46. The 90 degree angle intersection was not there. Based on that photo, the memorial seems to be in the right spot, or at least very close to it.

[@rad-sw8fz]

It is very possible that both highways have been rerouted since then and the actual site is off in a grassy area now. The maps show what look like old roadbeds in the area.

[@kaleb2193]

@@rad-sw8fzthat’s what I was thinking but then thought it was just a sidewalk

[@johnnyquest3707]

This is old news to those interested in this stuff but Bill Hickman was also Steve McQueen's driving coach in "Bullitt" and the guy who drove the Charger in the great car chase. Also in "The Seven Ups". You did a great job pinpointing the exact point where the crash occurred. We visited the spot over 20 years ago and the roads are so modernized now I'd recommend anyone going there to watch this first. I kind of feel sorry for the other guy in the crash. Not only do Dean fans most likely blame him for their idol's death, but he has to go through life with the name "Turnupseed".

[@neilwilliams4420]

Johnny Quest lol unfortunate surname just asking for that pun!!!!

[@pauldavis4508]

Be interesting to research how many "Turnupspeed" existing family names there are 😋

[@chriscobbdrummer6876]

I was a small child leaving Bakersfield with my parents when we drove up on the crash scene ,, I remmber it was very crazy

[@ANGELFREGON]

Great video Forrest. I love how you do the before and after land marks it's awesome, keep making videos for I'll keep watching.

[@SarahWRah]

I have driven those routes on many occasions. However, this video fails to mention the beautifully designed James Dean Memorial built in 1977 by Seita Ohnishi from Japan. The memorial surrounds an oak tree in the parking lot of the Jack Ranch Cafe - a short distance west of where Hwy 41 and 46 merge. Unless there is a specific sign at the little roadside marker mentioned in the video, I don't think it relates to James Dean. Side note: During junior high school, I used to watch James Dean and Natalie Wood when they filmed Rebel Without a Cause at a mansion near where I grew up in LA.

[@neilwilliams4420]

Sarah W. Rah that’s so cool and never heard of any witnesses to the filming of Rebel ( except the other actors) and what a privilege you had!!.. did you get close enough to meet them or just watched from a bit of a distance??...is the mansion still standing ( I take it it’s the one with the empty swimming pool Dean Jumps into messing around) be great to google earth that and visit one day?!!... nice information 👍❤️

[@jimcars6468]

I always thought that the tree was the location of his death. I’ve been wrong all these years.....go to know where his death actually happened.

[@Jeaniesunshine-fb5rk]

Sarah W. Rah , I usually go birth date and accident day. I was 15 . 1955

[@arrowsbysh01]

I was born in 1956 my father named me after james dean, I have had the pleasure of being at jacks and also being in Fairmount to the grave site.

[@propbraker]

Why would he need to mention a memorial for? That's not what this video was about, so I wouldn't consider his video and research a failure by any means.

[@shizzle1975]

Mr. Haggerty, your channel is very impressive. Please keep up the great work. You do an awesome job.

[@keeleye7225]

Something I wanted to bring to your attention: reading a google review of the memorial site, a guy named Jay writes: "the actual road Dean was going west on no longer exists. On 9/30/1955 he got off 99 and took the old US 466 and was killed where it intersected with CA 41. the current CA 46 which replaced US466 was built slightly to the north and the old 466 was abandoned and since reclaimed by nature." Indeed, if you look just slightly south of the current CA 46, doesn't it look like there's an old, unmaintained path that runs parallel to the 46? Is it possible that the actual intersection is behind that barbed wire fence to the south?

[@edwardscissorhands4007]

at 7:47 it looks like the OLD ROAD is above the current intersection. I was at the site sunday. Near the make shift memorial, there is an OLD ROAD....all cracked up from the past....this old road runs east to west.

[@markhernandez1252]

Very interesting. I need this to be solved

[@jaysantos536]

Nobody cares.

[@Boothysucks]

@@jaysantos536 nobody cares about your stupid comment 🙄

[@blue9multimediagroup]

​@@jaysantos536 you do for commenting

[@claud1961]

As a kid, we passed that site every year when we vacationed in Morro Bay but I didn't realize it until much later in life. It is a lonely stretch of highway. And it has changed a lot over the years- my farthest memory of that highway goes back to the late '60s and it was a new 2-lane then, you could see the old highway off to the side and it was very narrow. I think they widened it a few decades after, but it still looked like the old pics until a few decades ago. Back in the '90s, there was a short documentary on the crash using computer-generated speeds and variables such as the weight of both vehicles to recreate it and see if he was really speeding, and they had the lanes and the fence correct as I recall. They estimated he had slowed to 55, probably seeing Turnipseed. I would love to see that documentary again. The last few times I went (I no longer live in California) we stopped and had a little moment of silence. it is always sad to have young talent taken from you.

[@jamesmonahan1819]

I think the old road was still visible paralleling on the north. It was common for Ca DOT to upgrade roads by building a new one next to the old one, back in the '60s.

[@StanleySchmengie]

I've been on that road many, many times. What remains of the old road parallels Rte 46 for several miles, going back east from the junction of 41 & 46. I'll put up two Google map links below, one street view that shows the old tarmac still in place on the south side of 46. The new roadway crosses over the old one at least twice (so it is on both the north and south sides of the new roadway, but it is clearly visible in the following Google Earth shot; About 4 miles East of the accident site; goo.gl/maps/4oTwDj9XKymWB9oy6 Street view of the same area; goo.gl/maps/fp7Fn8oQEpAYVBmU9 The old road is there, cut into the hillside.

[@Thaisc67]

What a great video! You explain it with such precision! I always wondered how his day planned out before his passing. Thanks for this.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Thais Santos you’re welcome and I’m happy you enjoyed it!

[@Thaisc67]

Forrest Haggerty I loved it! Keep up the good work! You should do JFK

[@jeanangel2104]

Another great job, I always think what James Dean could have done. Sad, sad story but you did a great job explaining the whole story. Thanks Forrest.

[@TomOSevens]

The note on the old picture says "Hier starb James Dean" wich is German and means "James Dean died here". Thanks for the upload, great job!

[@VioletRene]

*I love history and you did an awesome job at re-creating it! RIP James Dean ♥*

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Violet Rene thank you and I’m happy you enjoyed it!

[@johnsewell2392]

Love your videos. Maybe do one about the Bonnie and clyde ambush site in Louisiana. I've been there and it would make a awsome video.

[@Gods2ndFavoriteBassPlyr]

This was outstanding, and well told. Thanks. I've been through that area a number of times. I have good friends who own a huge olive orchard and make the best first press olive oil ever! This is right near the San Andreas Fault (which you can actually see in certain spots, zig-zagging across the landscape.) Beautiful countryside.

[@christopherlapraim4763]

Great job. A little context for what it's worth. Locals refer to the intersection as the "Cholame Y" and the "Robles" of Paso Robles is pronounced "Ro-Bulls" not "Ro-Bless"

[@corianddon]

Before Interstate 5 was completed it was normal to drive through the Central Valley farm fields to get to the Northern Calif coast. I made that drive myself several times. On September 30th at 5:45 pm the sun would have been in Dean's eyes making hard to see on coming traffic. This was just before the time change that occurs in October. This could have been another factor that created the fatal chain of events. Thank you for sharing all this information.

[@joestephan1111]

Going the other way the low sun should have reflected off the silver Porsche. The driver of the hefty American sedan was most likely looking up 41 to begin his turn. Dean, who was obviously flying by ground, would have covered more distance in less time than the other driver would be expecting. He most likely would have seen it as clear until a speeding car entered the picture

[@joestephan1111]

@e james this has floated around for years. I've never seen Anything documenting this.

[@davidmoser3535]

I think Turnupseed never saw Deans super low slung car, bango.

[@tonypitsacota2513]

Look online at the accident pictures. You can see a telephone pole next to his car. On google maps, you can still see a telephone pole alongside of the road in the middle section you pointed out.

[@KeithKman]

Very well done video. Unfortunately he died slightly more south of the intersection than you show in the video. He wasn’t driving on highway 46, it wasn’t built yet. If you look at Google maps there is a flat dirt section that runs parallel to highway 46. This was on US Route 466 and the road James Dean was traveling on at the time of his death.

[@ULTRA_2112]

I was searching for this commend...

[@amazoidal]

Yes, you can still see 466 that paralleled the new 46 to the South by only a few feet. So the crash spot is under the road. Just drove 46 in early August, 2002, and while a lot of 46 is 4 lane, this section is not. Maybe in another 5 years. So I usually take 101 South from Paso. But 46 should have been fixed 40 years ago. Too many people have died needlessly. The reason for so much traffic on 41 is the Avenal State prison.

[@dealit3370]

Forrest: Nice video of the Dean tragedy, very accurate up to your conclusions regarding the roadway configuration at the place of the accident. Their are actual aerial roadway views of the layout at the time of the accident. and they clearly show that Rte 41 South was a very flat sweeping curve that melded into Rte 46, probably very similar to the way it is today, without any of the 90 deg. turns at Rte 46. I would conclude that the final resting place of the Spyder was in the area West of the present day fence memorial, probably 40-50 yards West along the fence line. (FYI: Check out KZbin vid. "James Dean Crash Recreated with Broderick Crowford intro.".

[@alolkoydesigns]

I really appreciate the care you put into authenticating your information. Thanks.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Charlie Alolkoy you’re welcome. I’m happy you enjoyed it!

[@braddelany6234]

Great video maker! Great editing! I think you may be wrong, I think indeed he was hit right where the memorial shows, before Turnipseed hit him. You can see by the 1955 photo, with the cop over on the side of the road, that there were skid marks on JD's side of the road, indicating that Turnipseed was over the yellow line, but the skid marks actually start on Turnipseeds side of the road, which indicates that JD was on the wrong side of the road, and that Turnipseed may have pulled the wheel to the left after braking, moving the skid out of his lane into JD's lane, as an avoidance move, (or if his brakes weren't adjusted correctly, or if a tire were low, the car may not skid straight forward,) but that at the last moment, he pulled it back to the right with the sudden stop of the skid mark showing the exact impact moment and placement, which corresponds exactly with the memorial.

[@allanholder1018]

It is good that you are analyzing the skid marks, but you made a small mistake. Turnupseed's skidmarks that started on Turnupseed's side of the road were made by his REAR tires, not his front tires. This changes everything in your analyzations. JD was never in Turnupseed's lane.

[@braddelany6234]

@@allanholder1018 Interesting. Hardly recall this post, will have to look at the video again. But, if the back tires made the skid marks, that should indicate he may have deployed the emergency brakes rather than stepping on the brake pedal. Thank you

[@pilsnrimgaard2507]

I have passed by this many times on my way to the May Paso Robles wine festival. I never realized that was where he actually died. Weird too as in this location it is as flat as the ocean out there and you would think that even in a low profile Porsche Spider, you would have seen anything coming for miles. I wonder if he was impaired or just ignorant.

[@WootTootZoot]

There's a sign that tells you about the accident location about a half mile before you reach the intersection, I'm surprised you've never seen it ? Dean was driving west with the sun in his eyes, and probably misjudged Mr Turnipseed's approaching car, and Turnipseed was at fault.

[@georgebamber6871]

It was getting dark and his lights weren't on

[@RustyX2010]

I too have driven on that highway coming from up north on the 101 and wanted to get to the 5 freeway but didn't see any signs saying that were he died due to major road construction that was going on along that highway about 7-8yrs ago. That whole area is smack dab in the middle of nowhere and you really don't want to be in an area like that at nightfall.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Deans car was silver and it blended in with the background and was harder to see

[@amazoidal]

JD bought booze at Blackwell's Corner. He was probably feeling no pain and his reflexes were slower.

[@jbsoul4575]

I appreciate your videos. I've seen quite a few of them. You put a lot of effort into these.

[@PeterDaltrey]

Fascinating...... nicely done. Can you PLEASE cover the tragic death of Buddy Holly.....? The Winter Tour, the venues, the hotels, the last gig....the airport take off...the crash site. I`ve been to Lubbock whilst on tour across America and the town was vibrating with his presence.......

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Peter Daltrey I already did the Buddy Holly crash. You can find it in my list of videos.

[@cardinaloflannagancr8929]

That was a preventable one too a similar fate befell JFK Jr flying when not instrument rated. You can actually watch on radar the result of not trusting instruments and instead faulty senses. The problem lies in not having a point of reference and your body incorrectly tells the brain orientation. Initially there was a criminal investigation of an in flight shooting on board due to a gun with spent round in the chamber. It was quickly admitted that an investigator knew this was Buddy's gun so and had felt compelled to squeeze off a round.

[@paulbarron2609]

Forrest - In the video at 3:04 in, you show the last picture of James Dean at the gas station and it is signed James Dean. How would he have signed it? Just saying -

[@RogerWittekind]

Good point but all I can think is so it didn't happen on Deadman's curve.

[@northernbrother1258]

Hard to believe that was 65 years ago, and Dean would be almost 90 today. RIP

[@ChristelMontoya]

you do such wonderful videos!!! you are clear, easy to follow, and your content is always interesting. Thank you, I used to live in Bel Air and your videos take me back! The westside changes but stays the same, I love it there.

[@susanmuecke7160]

All your videos are fascinating. Great voice. Thank you.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Susan Muecke thank you and I’m happy you enjoy them!

[@rothhammer1492]

I do not think the gas station at Ventura and Beverly Glen in Sherman Oaks was a Mobil in 1955. It was Casa De Petrol, part of a well known set of landmarks known as 'Casa Corner' which consisted of Casa De Cadillac (still extant auto dealer), Casa De Petrol and Casa de Cascade car wash (both gone). Also, it's the corner of Ventura and Tyrone as Beverly Glen ends at Ventura. When I grew up there in the 1960s-70s, Casa de Petrol was surmounted by a very large Standard Chevron sign of the type common in the 1950s, early 60s. Some sources claim the photo was taken at Blackwell's Corner, where Dean made his last stop before the wreck, but 1953 USGS maps show the area as bare as it is now. The buildings in the background wouldn't have existed.

[@merejohnson9634]

Just found your channel and I love it! Your story telling and visual is easy to follow and I’ve been learning a lot! Subscribing and binge watching all your videos!!!

[@melainewhite6409]

I'm thinking the memorial was simply put in a convenient place and one thought to be unlikely to be disturbed by road workers. As an aside, I've observed a good number of such private memorials erected not where a fatality occurred but in a more prominent location to attract more attention from strangers to a family's private loss.

[@neilwilliams4420]

Melaine White probably put in a safer location but as near as the actual spot as possible as they knew people would want to visit the location of his death, where it’s been exactly located here in this great video is obviously a very dangerous spot right on that bend so it would be very irresponsible for them to put the memorial right there as within no time you would have numerous crashes there where people are trying to stop to see Dean’s actual crash spot

[@bradstarkey4919]

I agree depending on Deans Speed and type of impact???? how many times it rolled or coasted ???

[@mynameisvna]

What an interesting video! Thank you!

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Vianey Frias you’re welcome! Thank you for watching 😁

[@JustLiftUce]

Sit on my face

[@dennisregan9829]

This is great. Very well researched and produced. Thanks for making these. I just subbed and look forward to watching all these. I like your choice of subjects too.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Dennis Regan thank you and I’m happy you enjoy them!

[@Ro6entX]

I live only few hours away from this site, and pretty sure it can be seen on here (i haven't been out there in several years) but you can still see small section of the old 46. And i think the memorial was placed further away because it still gets visitors so safer then the excat spot of the wreckage (i also believe it came to stop in that dirt area). But good video

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

RogentX It's just down the road in Cholame at least it was the last time I was there, but that was in 1981 soo maybe it's not there.

[@Ro6entX]

@@lilorbielilorbie2496 Oh i meant the roadside fence memorial, not the one further down road but yeah it is still there.

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Rogent X That's o.k. Years ago I had a Great Aunt and Uncle who lived in Paso Robles. We would go see them every chance we got. Their daughter still lives in Atascadero. I miss them a lot. For their age they were really a hoot.

[@bossford1966]

Your videos are the best thing iv seen on KZbin. Thank you your a pro

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

BOSS FORD thank you and I’m happy you enjoy them!

[@bossford1966]

@@forresthaggertychannel4301 your welcome

[@tkeforever4809]

Great job! How about a similar narrative for Sam Kinison?

[@waynejones3428]

👍 😁

[@rhwinner]

Awesome job! I 'm planning on taking the Dean route soon, so this is invaluable.

[@MrElderberries]

Great use of maps to tell a story ! Loved it.

[@rolanddoucet9437]

I've read a lot about JD and the accident. Looking at old photos and comparing them to the intersection as it is today, this video clears up a lot of questions..

[@alejandrorodriguez9088]

wow i just discovered your channel, amaziing

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

alejandro rodriguez I’m happy you enjoyed it!:)))

[@paulrowe7290]

Excellent videos with very extensive descriptions. How about doing one for Grace Kelly's accident and proximity to film To Catch a thief locations very close.. more videos please.

[@surferdude44444]

Forrest.....Hwy 46 did not exist in 1955. James Dean was heading west on Hwy 466 where it intersected with Hwy 41. 466 was eliminated in the early '60s when 46 was built. Dean never drove down 46 since it wasn't built yet. The old remains and surface scrape of 466 can still be seen in this clip kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKmqkImhoap2b7c at the 00:30 mark. He drove down this old road.

[@markobrien3278]

^^^This. I was stationed at NAS Lemoore (about an hour north on Rt 41) in 1985 and remember reading a 30th anniversary retrospective of the accident in the Fresno Bee. The article mentioned the change in highway numbering and alignment that had occurred since the accident. My recollection may be wrong, but I seem to think there were some photos and diagrams in the article.

[@ahill7684]

Excellent job in making this video. Outstanding!

[@PaulLea]

Great detective work Forrest.

[@tied2dye1]

RUN FORREST RUN

[@marcusstenlund9851]

Liked it a lot! No bullshit, straight facts and good views like no doc have explaind it. Will visit those places next time in LA. Thanks

[@Nirky]

Good work! I humbly disagree though with your resting place of the Porsche however. Even if Dean were only going the speed limit, the car would have gone considerably past where you speculate it ended. Odds are it was going very fast (and probably why the other guy miscalculated by making his left turn). The Porsche was hit on the left side, driver's side, was not head on impact, so it very easily could have rested where the memorial is. Thanks for the synopsis.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Nirky after further review I actually think it actually came to rest further to the left, from looking straight down, and in the new transition lane.

[@RgTripleC]

@@forresthaggertychannel4301 They know that Dean traveled 45 feet (roughly 3-4 car lengths) past impact point and Turnupseed traveled 36 feet-both in the general direction they were traveling. So if your impact point is correct, your stopping point is about right.

[@jcraiglad]

Mark Gibson : why be a prick about it.

[@jaysilverheals4445]

a few additional notes. Seed entered real early into the turn like most people would he did not slow down as if to make a sharp left turn. He was a car guy and had just passed other cars that witnessed it from behind him. As he was sort of shaving the corner by entering early he then spotted Deans low tiny car and realized he was in his lane and veered back to the right trying to avoid him and dean swerved starting the car into a spin and hit the drivers side front of seeds car and flew up and over to where it came to rest. Neither car braked. Seconds before Dean passed cars and one noted their speed of 65 because they said Dean passed them as if they were standing still and the one guy saw what was coming and wife looked up for them both to witness the crash. He also confirmed Dean never hit brakes because it happens so fast. The farmer and wife estimated car was WELL over 80 mph or faster. Seed cannot be blamed because its normal to go left while someone is coming in your direction however the car was virtually invisible combined with small size can give perspective of normal car FURTHER AWAY. also the great speed of dean. Seed did not as much hit him as in the split second he was swerving back to avoid the turn-dean swerved and was virtually sideways when he then plowed into seed. so was seed also swerving in freak out manuever.

[@allanholder1018]

Wrong. There are skidmarks from BOTH cars indicating that they both saw each other in the last 2 seconds before impact. Their speed by the cops was estimated about 50mph at impact. Seconds before the impact, both cars were moving faster so the skidding helped slow down the vehicles to just 50mph.

[@robertkostoroski3581]

the 1st time i heard you i knew you had to be a teacher of some kind and i was right ! i wish i had you way back then ! maybe things would be different now ! the kids you have now are so lucky they have to pay attention !! you are awesome !!

[@shananagans5]

You are absolutely right about where the old road was. If you look close on street view, you can see that strip between the two current roads is old pavement. It's sun bleached and has a few weeds growing through it but it is still paved.

[@paulwalker2401]

Brilliant actor.. Great video

[@stangable5564]

What an insightful video.Thank you.

[@joestephan1111]

Well done. Some items: 1) There is no such thing as a "porsh". The name of the car is pronounced "Por-Shuh". 2) I have a book on Dean that shows his route as 101 north to Hwy 46 west. I have been both ways. The route you show would probably be right. A lot less conspicuous, two lanes, would have allowed them to run at higher speeds. I-5 didn't yet exist. 3) He did get a second ticket somewhere along the way. Years ago Blackwell's Corner had a facsimile (pre photo copy) of it on the wall with many pictures. 4) Your second pronounciation of Lance Reventlow's name is the correct one. 5) Your descriptions of the intersection as it was then is also correct. 6) A number of years ago I took the route on one of the anniversary's of his death. I timed it to get to the intersection at about the same time as the crash. In addition to getting a really creepy feeling as I went thru there, the sun was really low. He would have been looking right into it which is a factor no one has ever brought up. 7) I have seen car magazines of the time which show his car as having gone off to the left, stopping in a farmer's field behind a barbed wire fence. 8) The mother of my ex-fiance was an emergency room nurse at the Paso Robles hospital. Years later, before her death, she revealed to the family that she was on duty that night. Contrary to the rumors he had faked his death, the government had taken him prisoner because of his affect on teenagers, etc, she said she saw his body and he was 100 percent dead. 9) Despite the improvements to the intersection fatal accidents, most commonly vehicles turning left from 46 onto 41, continue. Each time there are calls to put a freeway thru there.

[@joestephan1111]

@@jam9297 Porsche(por-sha) is the name of the family who first designed & developed the Volkswagen, then Porsche cars. They are actually a design firm whose work can be seen in varied form through out the world, from Yashica cameras to water-cooled Harley-Davidson engines. I'm sure you would not like someone butchering your last name.

[@organboi]

Why would the mother of your ex fiancé keep it a secret till before her death. How bizarre. Are you sure she wasn't suffering dementia? I find her confession hard to believe. She would have been talking about it well before then. Did someone pay her to keep silent for some reason?

[@Wilma1529]

Greetings Forrest, Have you plans to contact the CHP for the accident report as was the footage from the Valens, Holly, Richards investigation?

[@pudge9161]

How can the picture of James Dean "that was the last picture taken of him, " be signed by him?

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Pudge good question. I don’t know. Obviously he couldn’t sign it so it’s either a fake signature or it wasn’t his last photo.

[@neilwilliams4420]

Pudge well obviously fake then... the signature not the photo

[@delstanley1349]

+Pudge> He was a ghost writer!

[@Wasper216]

it was not signed. it just says "hier starb james dean" which is German for "here died james dean".

[@billvandaalen2162]

I went to the Dean crash site on Sept. 30, 1975, the 20th anniversary of the crash. What the maker of this video doesn't know is that the road, Rt. 46, that is there now was not the road as it existed on Sept. 30th 1955. The road that Dean was killed on was Rt. 46, but it was to the right of the current road. I was there in '75 with a bunch of other people and you could clearly see the old 1955 road outlined in the dirt to the right of the new road. Also, the maker of the video mentions Bill Hickman, the stunt driver in the station wagon behind him. Hickman was famous as one of the killers in Bullitt who drove the Dodge Charger chased by Steve McQueen. Later he appeared in The French Connection as an FBI agent that Gene Hackman mistakenly killls. But he also drove Hackman's car in that picture as well. He was also the killer/driver in the the Roy Schieder film, The Seven Ups. Hickman rushed out of his car at the Dean crash and got Dean out of the car, but Dean died in his arms. Hickman died in 1986.

[@ULTRA_2112]

This is it...

[@jimboerner2329]

Forrest you should do one on the famous "In Cold Blood" murders!!

[@jimcameron1234]

Jim Boermer. Forrest Gump!

[@hillaryforincarceration4404]

You really did your research for this video. It's very thorough.

[@kita17n]

i disagree with your opinion o the resting site of the spyder. if what I assume is correct, dean was hauling ass. that little porche would've ended up much further down the road, no disrespect

[@GrkG63]

New investigation with new technology put his speed at only 70mph

[@austingollaher7621]

@Lloyd Bonafide that car was comletely stock exept for the paint and had an absolute maximum speed of 124. So 138 is incorrect

[@chrish7]

@@GrkG63 no they proved that he was doing 59 miles per hour.

[@kellerrobert80]

I believe the fence marker/memorial is correct.

[@Rosebud2503]

I agree that he must have been very fast and the impact with the other car could have catapultet him much further. I enjoyed this video very much. Well researched.

[@JeffRoberts-KMZKM-Restoration]

Nice work on compiling and putting all this material together Forrest - good job

[@idontwantahandle]

Great work. Enjoy your vids very much.

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

QuickPitch I’m happy you enjoy them! :)))

[@hollywoodjoe123]

Imagine if James Dean at any of these stops - he left HIS home earlier or later - or to the Farmer's Market - or to the gas station back near his house - or the restaurant for dinner - HE had not done one of those stops ? It would have changed the whole thing !

[@Furious_George]

3:50 it feels like the white car is waiting for us to “get out da way”

[@kato64]

A very interesting video. I remember seeing a show some years back, that recreated the crash scene, using similar vehicles, at the same intersection, same day of the year/time of day. They determined that Turnupseed most likely simply didn’t see Dean’s Porsche, due to the flatness of the light at that time of day, combined with fact the aluminum finish more or less blended into the background. I’ve read JD’s last words were “That guy’s gotta see us!”, or words to that effect. He was tragically wrong. I can’t imagine the burden young Mr. Turnupseed must have carried over the years.

[@brewcrew5854]

this was outstanding presentation one question i had was it certainly seemed a heck of a long distance from the gas station through the desert to the wreck point i'm surprised that little spider had a fuel tank big enough to make it that far especially if he was leadfooting it on the throttle

[@jeffmarsh974]

brewcrew They were breaking in the engine. He wasn’t leadfooting. It’s a 3.5 hours and they refueled in Blackwells

[@rothhammer1492]

That area is not desert.

[@ronaldthornburg8838]

There is a gas station/truck stop at Blackwell Corners.

[@cwj9202]

Excellent commentary with video and Google sites. I would suggest his exit from the San Fernando Valley was via San Fernando Road, which in 1955 was the main north/south route through the valley for those traveling between L.A. and the San Joaquin valley.

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

James Dean was the first real cool guy.

[@joestephan1111]

Check out the tribute song "James Dean" by the Eagles where they use lines like "a bad refrigerator" and "Just too cool for school".

[@TRINZINI]

Dean Martin

[@Juzgames]

The real cool guy...is obama...😍

[@shamsthecat1996]

@MrTruboy Yeah, and if he didn't stop off at West Hollywood to have a "Dumpster Pump" with Rolf he might have avoided the fatal accident!

[@joeblack8915]

@MrTruboy Yet here you are, watching a video about him ya prick.

[@richglenn3729]

At 3:16 is a picture of James at the gas station. If this picture is "hours before his death," how is it the picture got developed and signed before that tragic event?

[@forresthaggertychannel4301]

Rich Glenn if it’s his signature then it’s a fake.

[@rogerangress1098]

"That guy's gotta See us!!!" James Deans last words before impact. It's very sad that Rolf Wutherich committed suicide because of all the so-called guilt of surviving & Dean did not.....RMA

[@boxing9763]

Roger Angress He didn't commit suicide. He actually ended up getting killed in a car accident as well in 1981.

[@a5dr3]

James also didn’t say that. Wütherich didn’t speak English or remember the crash.