Fast & Furious 7 star Paul Walker passed away at the age of 40 earlier today, after a tragic car accident in Valencia, California. Here's a statement from the actor's official Facebook page.

"It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide. He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives. We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news. Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences. - ‪#‎TeamPW‬"

The accident occurred at 3:30 PM PST on Rye Canyon Loop in Valencia. The identity of the driver, who also died, was not released at this time. The actor was riding in a Porsche GT, which burst into flames upon impact. It isn't known how fast the vehicle was going at the time of the accident.

The actor rose to prominence in the late 1990s with roles in Pleasantville, Varsity Blues, She's All That and The Skulls before taking on the role of Brian O'Conner in 2001's The Fast and the Furious. He would reprise that role in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Fast & Furious, Fast Five and this summer's Fast & Furious 6.

He was shooting the upcoming sequel Fast & Furious 7 in Atlanta, although it isn't known how his untimely death will affect the production.