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Driver of Shockwave Jet Truck dies while racing planes at 300mph at air show after vehicle EXPLODES
- A truck driver died after his Shockwave jet truck blew up and engulf in flames
- The truck was racing two airplanes that were going 300mph at the Battle Creek Air Show in Michigan on Saturday shortly after 1pm
- An explosion appears to happen in front of the truck, which barreled through it
- The vehicle came out the other side surrounded by smoke and significantly slower
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A driver is dead after his jet truck was engulfed in flames when he released his parachute while racing planes going 300mphs.
The driver was killed during the ‘pyrotechnic’ event at the Battle Creek Air Show in Michigan shortly after 1pm on Saturday, police confirmed.
Witnesses say the Shockwave jet truck was racing two planes that were going 300 mph. When the driver deployed his parachute, the truck engulfed in flames and a large plume of black smoke.
‘[The driver] was doing his show and going down the runway,’ Suze Gusching, media relations for Field of Flight told the Battle Creek Enquirer. ‘He passed by the explosion, and his truck had exploded.’
Video of the incident shows a large explosion happening right before the truck barreled into it. As the vehicle came flying out of the other side, it significantly slowed and was covered in thick smoke.
Chris Darnell is listed as the driver of the Shockwave Jet Truck. His brother Neal, who pilots the Flash Fire Jet Truck, declined to comment when reached by Daily Mail.com
A driver died after his Shockwave jet truck exploded after he deployed the parachute in Battle Creek, Michigan
The aircraft pilots flew through the smoke but appear unharmed
The truck was racing two airplanes, which were reportedly going around 300mph
Witnesses can be heard going ‘ohh’ as they realized the situation had just turned dire and the announcer asked people to ‘stay back’ while emergency teams assisted the scene.
The Battle Creek Fire and Police Departments and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.
A Shockwave truck features three Pratt & Whitney J34-38 jet engines, which were originally used by the US Navy’s T2 Buckeys planes, meaning it produces 36,000 horsepower and provide 21,000 pounds of thrust
The truck can reportedly reach up to more than 350mph, according to the Battle Creek Enquirer.
The Darnell Racing Enterprise, which owns the truck, also owns the Aftershock Jet Fire truck and the Flash Fire Jet truck.
The airshow was scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 4, but is currently postponed due to the accident. The event, which took place at the airport, was largely to celebrate the Air Force’s 75th Anniversary.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Police confirmed the incident on its Facebook page
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