
Donald Turnupseed
“I
didn’t see him, by God, I really didn’t see him.”
This
story defines the phrase, "Being in the wrong place at the wrong time"
on a spectacular level. It's about the man who caused the death of James
Dean.
On
September 30, 1955, the world lost the 24-year-old actor James Dean. He
only made three films, two that were not even released yet.
He was not rich and famous, nor would he ever be in his lifetime.
At
5:59pm, a 23-year-old Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed made the infamous
left turn that would take the life of Dean, making him immortal.
Dean died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Donald
grew up in a little town nearby called Tulare,
and attended Tulare Union High School.
He spent some time in the Navy, and spent nearly his entire life in that
area.
After
the accident, Turnupseed, with a scratched nose, was told by a CHP officer to
hitchhike home.
There was an inquest held, and it was ruled an accident.
According to the book The Death of James Dean,
“Turnupseed probably would have been cited at the scene for an illegal left
turn and perhaps other negligence-related charges, such as failure to signal,
failure to see safe movement, and unsafe speed.
But because the crash involved a fatality” there was an inquest held.
Jimmy was probably speeding (but not the ridiculous speeds some suggest
– more like 60-70), and because the Porsche he was driving was so low to the
ground, and at that time of day – Turnupseed really didn’t realize what hit
him (or he hit) until it was too late.
Turnupseed
never spoke publicly about the accident.
My friend, writer Warren Beath – who penned The Death of James
Dean, and last year’s book James
Dean in Death, approached Donald once.
He was a friendly enough, but when asked if he would comment on the
accident, Turnupseed’s expression changed to near stone, and he answered
simply, “Not a chance.”
Turnupseed
inherited his father’s electrical business and built it into a multi
million-dollar company.
Today in some parts of California, it’s quite common to see a utility
truck sporting the name so closely associated with James Dean’s demise.
Turnupseed
did marry twice, was widowed once, had 3 children, 1 stepson and 5
grandchildren.
He succumbed to lung cancer (he had been diagnosed in late '93) on July 13, 1995,
in his home in Tulare, without ever
discussing the accident publicly. He was 63 years old.
His body was handled by Miller's Funeral Home, and he is buried in the Tulare District Cemetery, next to his first wife and his parents.
Thank you Warren, and thank you, Harry.
www.findadeath.com