40 year old Chris Darnell died Saturday at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show while driving the Shockwave Jet Truck at speeds of over 450 kilometers per hour.
In a Facebook post on the Shockwave page, Chris Darnell’s father, Neal Darnell, wrote, “We are so sad. Just one month ago Chris turned 40. He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was ‘Living the Dream’ as he said.”
In a later post it was revealed that after several investigations, the accident was the result of a mechanical failure in the truck.
Videos taken at the event showed the truck driver losing control of his vehicle as it burst into flames and rolled over multiple times, crushing him much to every spectators’ dismay.
On Saturday, July 2nd, Chris had been performing with Shockwave as he drove a jet engine powered truck down a runway. Prior to the accident, the Shockwave was seen spitting flames out of its exhaust pipe which was supposedly a normal part of the performance.
According to the Dayton air show, the Shockwave Jet Truck is equipped with three jet engines producing a combined total of 36,000 horsepower. The truck got to speeds so high that it earned the spot as a Guinness World Record holder for the fastest jet truck in the world as it reached 376 mph.
Battle Creek authorities had decided to cancel Saturday’s plans, saying that the events would continue on Sunday after officials concluded investigations.
In a Facebook post on the Shockwave page, Chris Darnell’s father, Neal Darnell, wrote, “We are so sad. Just one month ago Chris turned 40. He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was ‘Living the Dream’ as he said.”
In a later post it was revealed that after several investigations, the accident was the result of a mechanical failure in the truck.
Videos taken at the event showed the truck driver losing control of his vehicle as it burst into flames and rolled over multiple times, crushing him much to every spectators’ dismay.
On Saturday, July 2nd, Chris had been performing with Shockwave as he drove a jet engine powered truck down a runway. Prior to the accident, the Shockwave was seen spitting flames out of its exhaust pipe which was supposedly a normal part of the performance.
According to the Dayton air show, the Shockwave Jet Truck is equipped with three jet engines producing a combined total of 36,000 horsepower. The truck got to speeds so high that it earned the spot as a Guinness World Record holder for the fastest jet truck in the world as it reached 376 mph.
Battle Creek authorities had decided to cancel Saturday’s plans, saying that the events would continue on Sunday after officials concluded investigations.
