Jet Truck driver dies in accident at Michigan air show

[sl8]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jet-truck-driver-dies-accident-michigan-air-show-rcna36481

Jet Truck driver dies in accident at Michigan air show

Chris Darnell died Saturday while driving the Shockwave Jet Truck at the annual Battle Creek Field of Light Air Show and Balloon Festival.

July 3, 2022, 12:34 AM EDT
By Dennis Romero

The driver of a jet-powered semitruck died when the vehicle crashed in a fiery accident in Michigan on Saturday, police said.

Battle Creek police identified the victim as Chris Darnell, 40, who was behind the wheel of the Shockwave Jet Truck when it raced through or by an explosion and appeared to be in flames, producing a streak of smoke and debris recorded on video.

It wasn't clear if that first burst of flames, which created a cloud of black smoke, was part of the expected display at the annual Battle Creek Field of Light Air Show and Balloon Festival. The state government's website promotes the event and notes that it features "pyro and the WALL OF FIRE."

Two prop planes were performing aerial tricks and flying low above the truck as it raced down a runway at the Battle Creek Executive Airport when the accident happened.

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[multigraincracker]

1. I've seen those run a few times at the strip...

Pretty thrilling to watch.

[multigraincracker]

3. Here is one at Norwalk Ohio where I saw this driver do it.

He plays a tune with the very loud "backfires"..The year before it burned down the sign in the back, so that year the crowd was yelling "burn it down, burn it down". It took almost an hour to repair the black top in the burn out area before the races could go on. He melted the pavement.

[dchill]

2. No way to see that coming. Go figure.

[ret5hd]

4. Another display of dogged dumbassery...

for the local dunderheads.