Tinsel Town mourned the tragic death this week of filmdom’s favorite rising star: Sandy Snail.

Sandy, 2, was struck and fatally squashed by a gas guzzling SUV while slowly crossing a crowded Beverly Hills street. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

"The poor snail didn’t have a chance," one shaken eyewitness said. "When he saw the SUV bearing down on him at about 5 mph he tried to crawl out of the way but he just wasn’t fast enough. It was horrible."

Ironically, Sandy was to begin filming today on what Hollywood insiders were calling his "vehicle to stardom," a heavily publicized Tulevision Film Studio documentary, "The Sad Life of the Endangered Snail." The future of the project may now be in doubt.

Police are holding a black Ford Explorer for questioning in the incident. Meanwhile, animal rights activists are demanding a nation-wide SUV recall until the safety concerns of snails are addressed in their tire tread design.