A loud explosion shattered the quiet Malibu afternoon. A column of flames shot up in the middle of Pacific Coast Highway, lighting up the gray sky. “We thought it was an earthquake — then we saw thick black smoke, and the silver car was burning like a fireball,” said a nearby resident. By the time firefighters arrived, Brad Pitt’s luxury Porsche was nothing more than a twisted mass of metal, still blazing.
According to the initial report from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the accident occurred at 5:42 p.m. Brad Pitt’s car was traveling at high speed when it suddenly lost control, crashed into a utility pole, and exploded in a split second. Witnesses claimed to have heard three consecutive explosions — the sound of metal colliding, the fuel tank exploding, and then a loud scream.
A woman named Megan Torres, who lives near the scene, said through tears: “I ran out and saw the flames were so big that I couldn’t get close. A man shouted ‘It’s Brad Pitt!’ and we all stood there. No one could believe it.”
Black smoke filled the road, and police immediately cordoned off the area for a 2km radius. Many fans gathered outside the barricades, praying and sobbing after hearing the initial information from the police chief: “There are no survivors.”
A delivery driver named Chris Mendez, whose dashcam captured the terrifying moment, said: “Brad’s Porsche was driving normally, but I saw a spark coming from under the car, then it swerved hard to the right. Seconds later, it hit a power pole. There was a huge bang, and my windshield shattered.”
In a video that went viral on social media just 10 minutes later, flames could be seen reaching over 10 meters high, and people were screaming and calling Brad Pitt’s name continuously. Paparazzi and fans rushed to the scene, creating chaos, and police had to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd.
When the fire department controlled the fire, the victim’s body was taken out in a black bag. A source from the Los Angeles County medical team said: “We still performed CPR for 20 minutes even though we knew the chance of survival was almost zero.”
According to a doctor at the scene, Brad Pitt’s entire body was so badly burned that he was “unrecognizable to the naked eye.” A defibrillator was used three times, but his heart no longer responded. A medical staff member exclaimed: “We tried as if it was our own family member.”
The sound of an ambulance siren echoed throughout the road along the coast. Paparazzi captured the image of the car carrying Brad Pitt’s body leaving in absolute silence. Dozens of fans knelt on the side of the road, holding candles, tears mixed with smoke.
UCLA Hospital immediately confirmed that it had admitted a “famous victim” in cardiac arrest and burns all over his body. The ICU was completely sealed off, with police on guard. Within 30 minutes, Angelina Jolie — Brad’s ex-wife — appeared at the hospital with a pale face, refusing to answer the press. An inside source said she “could not stand when she received the terrible news.”
At 9:12 p.m., the monitor in the ICU emitted a long beep — the heart signal was flat. Doctors stopped all resuscitation efforts. A medical staff member said softly: “He passed away quietly, without pain.”
The news spread in just a few minutes, shocking the whole world. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to social media platforms, the hashtags #PrayForBradPitt and #GoodbyeBrad topped the global trending list within 20 minutes. Leonardo DiCaprio wrote on Instagram: “He was more than just a friend, he was the soul of a generation of actors.” Margot Robbie posted a behind-the-scenes photo of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with the caption: “I still think I’ll see you tomorrow.”
On Hollywood Boulevard, a long line of fans lit candles in front of Brad Pitt’s star on the Walk of Fame. A middle-aged man sobbed: “He is the reason I believe in cinema.”
The Los Angeles City government declared a special day of remembrance, while the White House issued a statement expressing condolences to the actor’s family.
While the work to remove the victim’s body was underway, another incident added to the mourning atmosphere. The rescue helicopter carrying the forensic records of the incident experienced a technical problem while leaving Malibu. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing on the sand, seriously injuring two rescue workers. “It was like a series of disasters,” said a Police Department spokesman.
The incident shocked the public even more — many called it a “double whammy” on a day when Hollywood lost one of its biggest icons.
At 11:06 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department held an emergency press conference: “We have confirmed that the victim of a car fire on Pacific Coast Highway is actor Brad Pitt, 61. The initial cause is believed to be an electrical short circuit that caused a gas tank explosion.”
The announcement sent crowds outside the hospital into tears. Several fans fainted, while television stations around the world paused to broadcast special news. CNN opened its newscast by saying: “Hollywood has lost a legend.”
Three days after the accident, thousands gathered at Malibu Pier for a memorial service. Candles stretched along the shore
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