<P> Fast & Furious (alternatively known as The Fast and the Furious 4, or Fast & Furious 4) is a 2009 American action film directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan . It is the fourth installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise . The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster . The film serves as a connection from the first film into a present - day setting, with main members of the original cast reprising their roles . The film is set between the second installment and third installment . Originally released on April 3, 2009, the film received negative reviews upon release, but was a box office success grossing $363 million worldwide . It was followed by Fast Five in 2011 . </P> <P> Five years after the first film, Dominic Toretto and his new crew, consisting of his girlfriend Letty, Tego Leo, Rico Santos, Cara Mirtha, and Han Seoul - Oh, are hijacking fuel tankers in the Dominican Republic . Dominic suspects that the police are on their trail, forcing the crew to disband and go their separate ways, with Han deciding to go to Tokyo . Realizing that he must leave, Dominic runs, leaving Letty behind to protect her from harm . </P> <P> Three months later, Dominic is now residing in Panama City . He gets a call from his sister, Mia Toretto, who tells him that Letty has been murdered . Dominic heads back to Los Angeles to attend her funeral and examine the crash and finds traces of nitromethane on the ground . He visits the only car mechanic that sells nitromethane in LA and forces him into giving him the name David Park, the man who ordered the fuel, and informs him that the only car that uses nitromethane in the area is a green 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport . </P> <P> Meanwhile, FBI agent Brian O'Conner is trying to track down a Mexican drug lord, Arturo Braga . His search leads him to David Park, and he tracks him down using an illegal modification record on his car . Dominic arrives at Park's apartment first and hangs him out of the window by his ankles before Brian arrives . Brian saves Park and Park becomes the FBI's new informant . Park gets Brian into a street race . Brian selects a modified 2002 Nissan Skyline GT - R R34 from the impound lot . Dominic races in his modified 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 . Gisele Yashar, the liaison for Braga, reveals that the winner will become the last driver on a team that traffics heroin between the Mexico--United States border . Dominic wins by bumping Brian's car while it is in nitro, making him lose control . Brian uses his power as an FBI agent to arrest another driver, Dwight Mueller, and takes his place on the team . </P>

Who died in the beginning of fast and furious