DALLAS An experienced stuntman died near Dallas on Tuesday during the filming of a car chase for the television series Walker, Texas Ranger, police said. Cedar Hill Police Lt. Rick Sullivan said William Charles Skeen, 49, was a passenger in a sports utility vehicle that jumped off a ramp at a speed of about 35 mph (56 kmh). Sullivan said the scene appeared to have gone according to plan but that crew members who approached the vehicle after the jump noticed that skeen had stopped breathing.

He was rushed to a Dallas hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Both Skeen and the driver were wearing helmets, body padding and safety harnesses. The driver, also an experienced stuntman, suffered minor injuries but his condition was described as fair. Sullivan said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death. He said he understood that Skeen had a history of heart problems and had undergone bypass surgery.

Chuck Norris, star and executive producer of the series, was on hand at the Cedar Hill State Park where the scene was being filmed but was not directly involved. We are grief-stricken over our friend's sudden and tragic death, Norris said in a statement released through the CBS television network. (Reuter)