Celebrity Plastic Surgeon Frank Ryan Dies in Car Crash

Dr. Frank Ryan, 50, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon known for his Heidi Montag makeover and work on stars like Gene Simmons, Vince Neil, Adrianne Curry and Shauna Sand, was killed in a car accident yesterday afternoon.

TMZ reports that Ryan's jeep went off the side of the Pacific Coast Highway, smashing onto some rocks. "Lifeguards initially tried to help Ryan, to no avail," TMZ writes. Ryan was trapped in the vehicle with major head injuries; he died at the scene.

Before the accident, Ryan had been hiking near Malibu with his Border Collie, Jill, and shared a photo on Twitter.

New reports claim the plastic surgeon was sending text messages right before the fatal crash. Celebrity publicist Charmaine Blake told PEOPLE that Ryan's family was told by investigators that the Tweeting caused the wreck on Monday. The California Highway Patrol confirms Ryan was texting before the crash, but investigators have not officially determined the cause of the accident.

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Oh my! Friend and plastic surgeon Dr Frank Ryan died yesterday in a terrible car crash. I was supposed to see him Thursday morning."

During a candlelight vigil in Malibu Tuesday night, the overarching message was that Dr. Ryan was "an angel."

I'm devastated," Lawonna Rashad, also connected to the Dr. Ryan Foundation, which benefited the less fortunate., told PEOPLE. "I've known him for nine years. An angel has been taken away from me. His circle was Beverly Hills and Malibu, but it was also South Central and Compton."

Comments

(98)

Thursday 19 August

By Candice

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Another good one for Oprah to talk about... It can happen to absolutely anyone! Please... let be a hard lesson learned by seeing someone else (a very important, famous someone else) make the mistake.

Wednesday 18 August

By Jerry6

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It is sad that a good Doctor died, but if he insisted on texting while driving, it shows that being smart does not equate to being intelligent. What a waist of a life, but let us be glad that he did not take someone else with him.

By jill

He can't even relax with his dog without texting. How sad!

By mitch

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at least the idiot didnt kill someone else. you tweeters are pathetic.

By JASON GARCIA!

God bless Dr. Frank Ryan. So sad. RIP dear sir.

By Joanna Casteel

Geez folks it's hard enough just driving put your gadgets down and drive so you don't end up dead.

By lindee

Guess he didn't take Oprah's oath?

By chuckie

It's like the thinning of the herd. You'd think an educated professional would know better than to be texting while driving. Hope whatever it was really important.

By Owen

Thank you, Chuckie! I couldn't agree with you more, sir. Anyone who is stupid enough to screw around with their cell phone while they're driving deserves what they get. At least he didn't kill anyone else with his selfishness.

By Nick Mayor

If his texting resulted in his death, I have NOT ONE OUNCE OF SYMPATHY. He put others in danger for his selfish stupidity. I was the victim of a car crash because some guy was too involved on his cell phone. I could have been killed.

By Susan

It just shows you how stupidiy can affect the rich and the famous. I feel sad for his family. What a needless loss. Maybe just maybe someone would get the idea that one is to drive and only drive and not play around with all the modern gadgets!

By Sususuu

Maybe this will finally convince people that texting/tweeting while driving a car is NOT worth it. Dr. Ryan's life is over and it's very sad for his family and friends who have to carry on without him...and his dog, too.

By Sheila

This doctor also did a lot of good in removing tattoos from gang members at no cost. He really seemed to be a good person, but no one should text and drive-especially on Pacific Coast Highway - it is treacherous.

By Joe

so how does that work? do you steer with your knees while your hands are texting?

By leslierichard17

The PCH is very treacherous even for good drivers. I suspect tweeters and texters will learn nothing from this, though, if it is determined he was distracted by sending messages.

By P

What about his DOG??? Was he hurt????

By Linda

It is very very sad about The Doctor but again this is just another example of how people dont listen when they are told that texting is dangereous and BAD while driving!!! what is it going to take until people wake up and start listening .. will more people have to die because they just cant stop themselves from texting .. I hate cell phones ..

By Vinny

Why oh why can't people stop texting while driving ..If it's so important that you need to text someone pull off the side of the road and do it .A nano second with your eyes off the road can get you killed as you can see here .. People are so addicted that they can't go a mile down the road without texting or using a cell phone .

By Mel

God in his infinite wisdom has removed one more texter from the highway. God bless & drive safe everyone.

By goatcars2

It's hard to have sympathy for someone stupid enough to text while driving, ESPECIALLY on the Pacific Coast Hwy. Thank God he didn't take anyone else with him.

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