Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. By Shannon Becker Jul 2, 2022 Updated Dec 12, 2022 BATTLE CREEK, Mich. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Darnells father, Neal Darnell is a native of Picher, Okla. released a statement Saturday evening: BCPD state the Battle Creek Fire Department, Battle Creek Police Department, and Federal Aviation Administration were on scene investigating. It happened so quickly that Chris didnt even have time to react, Neal Darnell, the drivers father, told The Associated Press. Chris Darnell, 40, died in the accident Saturday that happened during a race between the Shockwave Jet Truck and two airplanes at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. The Shockwave jet truck was built by Les Shockley in the 1980s and driven by Chris Darnell in recent years. Based in Springfield, Missouri, SHOCKWAVE is owned by Darnell Racing Enterprises, Inc. and their jet powered semi-trucks were driven/piloted by Chris Darnell. Invalid password or account does not exist. According to police . Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Shockwave, the legendary jet truck, crashes and claims life of driver Fatal Jet Truck Crash Linked to Tire Blowout - Jalopnik Jet Truck driver dies in accident at Michigan air show - NBC News The accident is under investigation. Just one month ago Chris turned 40. The truck continued forward, and there was an explosion on the back of the truck, likely caused by tire debris and possibly a fuel tank rupture. . The explosion caused the back end of the truck to twist left before it veered right into the grass, flipping four times. We chatted with Elizabeth Matthews of Eaton Rapids, Michigan who witnessed the crash as a spectator. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. We anticipate more information to be release me this evening from authorities. Springfield, Missouri-based Darnell Racing Enterprises said the custom-built jet truck reaches speeds topping 350 mph and races at air shows across North America. The family is waiting for an autopsy report to learn the official cause of death. Chris Darnell, Shockwave Jet Truck driver, courtesy Summit Motorsports. The engines produce 36,000 horsepower and provide 21,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the truck to exceed speeds of350 mph. A representative with GoFundMe shared that a fundraiser has been created to assist the Darnell family. She said she was stunned. Before launching Joplin News First in 2017, he worked in television and radio, overlapping a career in the music industry. Last weekend, driver Chris Darnell was tragically killed when his jet-powered semi truck rolled over at a Michigan air show. Shockwave Jet Truck crashes at Air Show, driver killed Chris Darnell, 40, was killed in the crash according to the Battle Creek Michigan Police; Shockwave Jet Truck company is based in Springfield, Mo. It happened so quickly that Chris didnt even have time to react, Neal Darnell, the drivers father, told The Associated Press. Courtesy Elizabeth Matthews. Choose wisely! All rights reserved. 2 min read. Shannon Becker was born and raised in Joplin and began in radio before graduating from Joplin Senior High in 1990. We are so sad, Neal Darnell wrote in a Facebook post Saturday evening. Invalid password or account does not exist. Neal Darnell, who also drives the Shockwave, said he concluded what happened after watching video of the accident and inspecting the jet truck. We won't share it with anyone else. Most people dont like their jobs. He was Living the Dream, as he said.. Shockwave Jet Truck Accident - 7/2/22 - Battle Creek, MI 'Field of Flight' Airshow 28,640 views Jul 2, 2022 422 Dislike Share Save TeamSteelPawPaw 60 subscribers Video I took this of a. In a statement, Darnells father, Neal Darnell, confirmed his youngest son had died, writing the accident occurred as a result of mechanical failure., We are so sad, Neal Darnell wrote. Get notifications, check out the latest contests, find great recipes, and always the latest news, weather and sports for the 4-States area!We cover Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. You have permission to edit this article. According to the website biography, Darnell, who spent his entire life participating in racing, was the driver/pilot for both the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck and the FLASH FIRE Jet Truck. Springfield, Missouri-based. In a release, the city confirmed the incident resulted in one . Famous shotgun from Bonnie & Clyde gang on display, Afghan girl from famous cover portrait is evacuated, Smithsonian posters in Joplin highlight American, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Chris Darnell, 40, the driver of the truck, was identified as the deceased. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Over the years, Darnell participated in a wide range of racing events, including drag racing, circle track racing and more. Chris loved his job. He worked with major music artists for 20 years, garnering gold and platinum records to his credit. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Daylight saving time may soon be permanent in Oklahoma, Jury recommends 100 years to life for Joplin man, Former OK judge comes out against recreational marijuana, Joplin tests sirens during statewide tornado drill, 3 of 6 Missouris holiday weekend traffic fatalities in Troop Ds region, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Apple Watch ban: Heres what happens next, These cities are home to the happiest Americans, Person sleeping in car with large sword arrested, Husband of housekeeper arrested in Bishops death, Lawmakers grill IRS nominee about overhaul, Super Bowl fans missed game winning field goal by, UPDATE: Road reopens after ice forces Highway 59, More from KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Courtesy Elizabeth Matthews Don't forget to subscribe to this channel (KOAM NEWS NOW) and turn on notifications! Head to KOAMNewsNow.com! It happened so quick and just not something you would expect., She said at the first they delayed the show, but a few hours later they announced the cancelation for respect and because they were still investigating the crash.. Darnell also owned a truck accessory business in Springfield called 4 Wheel Customs, in addition to operating the fastest trucks in the world in drag racing and air shows. The driver of a truck powered by jet engines was killed during a high-speed accident in front of spectators at an air show in Michigan, police and relatives said Sunday. Updated One person was killed after a jet-powered truck caught fire and crashed racing two planes at a Battle Creek, Michigan airshow on July 2. Discovery Company. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 2. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. LANSING, Mich. (AP) The father of the jet engine-powered semitruck driver who died during a performance at a southwestern Michigan air show said Tuesday that the truck burst into flames after a blown tire ruptured the fuel tank. Chris Darnell, 40, was killed in the crash according to the Battle Creek Michigan Police; Shockwave Jet Truck company is based in Springfield, Mo. In a statement, Battle Creek police identified Chris Darnell, 40, as the driver of the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck, a custom-built semitruck equipped with three jet engines, which was racing down the runway at the Battle Creek Executive Airport at more than 300 miles per hour. He was Living the Dream as he said.. The Battle Creek Executive Airport team inspected the airfield before the activitybegan, finding no issues. Deputies respond to armed and barricaded subject in Independence, Noel man arrested; allegedly said he would shoot dog again, Warrant issued for man after dog is found with arrow in its head, Pittsburg High School student dies in morning crash, Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, Tracking Missouris Bear population; Lt Gov experiences Dept of Conservations work in person, 3 Kansas City officers who were shot released from hospital, PSU's College of Technology hosts open house and expo. Despite the shocking nature of this crash, very few details have emerged as to what actually went wrong. According to bio information Darnell has been involved in motorsports his entire life. No one else was injured in the accident. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Choose wisely! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Voters to decide Aug. 2 on renewing dedicated veterans millage for Kent County. Fire trucks, state troopers, and sweeping trucks were 'in and out' in ~20 minutes. (NCD) (Photo provided by Roman Tornopilsky). Battle Creek jet truck crash: A jet-powered stunt truck crashed in The SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck is seen behind a pace car in this handout photo. Regretfully, Chris Darnell, the driver and my youngest son, passed away from his injuries at approximately 1:01 p.m. No one else was involved. The Shockwave Jet Truck, driven by 40-year-old Chris Darnell, was racing two aircraft before the explosion. Deputies respond to armed and barricaded subject in Independence, Noel man arrested; allegedly said he would shoot dog again, Warrant issued for man after dog is found with arrow in its head, Pittsburg High School student dies in morning crash, Tracking Missouris Bear population; Lt Gov experiences Dept of Conservations work in person, 3 Kansas City officers who were shot released from hospital, PSU's College of Technology hosts open house and expo. His passion for putting on the best show possible for the fans, and for engaging with them, was clear. LANSING, Mich. (AP) The father of the jet engine-powered semi-truck driver who died during a performance at a southwestern Michigan air show said Tuesday that the truck burst into flames after a blown tire ruptured the fuel tank. Years before Shockwave jet truck crash, I rode it at 300 mph In a post published Saturday night (7/2) on the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck Facebook page, Chris Darnells father, Neal Darnell said the following: During todays SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck performance at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Airshow, an accident occurred as a result of a mechanical failure on the Jet Truck. Emergency crews responded after the explosion during the 1:10 p.m. performance by the Shockwave Jet Truck. Jet-powered semi truck Shockwave crashes at Michigan air show | Raleigh Videos shared on social media captured. 'Shockwave' Jet Truck Crash Battle Creek Michigan 7/2/22 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. That driver of the worlds fastest jet powered truck was Chris Darnell, a graduate of Missouri Southern State University who called southwest Missouri, home. The incident caused the death of the driver, 40-year-old Chris Darnell, according to the City of Battle Creek. We are so sad. That way you'll know when we have breaking news or severe weather updates.Want to read more about this? For more information on SHOCKWAVE Jet Trucks, youll find a link to their website, HERE, or you can visit their Facebook Page, HERE. Jet Truck Crash SHOCKWAVE DISASTER at Great New England Airshow 2008 - YouTube 0:00 / 2:02 Jet Truck Crash SHOCKWAVE DISASTER at Great New England Airshow 2008 Oliver Porter 3.37K subscribers. Summit Motorsports in a release of information, Inaddition to being a son, brother, husband and father, Chris was a popular entertainer. Shockwave Jet Truck crashes at Air Show, driver killed. Battle Creek, Michigan police, currently investigating the incident, said one of their priorities is to clear up some uncertainty surrounding whether the initial explosion of flames, which produced a cloud of black smoke, was a component of the annual Battle Creek Field of Light Air Show and Balloon Festival. We are starting the year with over 30 Events but as always, we will be adding more as the year goes on. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. Joplin News First (@joplinnewsfirst) Instagram photos and videos. BATTLE Creek Shockwave jet truck driver Chris Darnell was 'living his dream' before his tragic death at the air show on July 2. Darnell graduated MSSU in Joplin, Missouri with a degree in marketing, advertising, and promotions. More Details Emerge on the Shockwave Jet Truck Accident Neal Darnell said the accident occurred as a result of a mechanical failure on the jet truck.. Blown tire caused deadly racing truck crash at Field of Flight - WWMT There was a problem saving your notification. No one else was injured in the accident. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. Shockwave jet truck suffers a malfunction during a high speed pass and crashes at Field of Flight air show, Battle Creek, Michigan (July 2nd, 2022) . One person is dead following an explosion during a jet-fueled semitruck pyrotechnic performance Saturday at Battle Creek Executive Airport. One person is reported dead at a Michigan air show after a "jet truck" crashed and exploded into flames on Saturday afternoon. A jet-powered stunt truck spun out of control and crashed at an air show in Battle Creek, Michigan, killing the driver, according to police and footage of the incident. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. The accident reportedly involved a jet-fueled truck exploding Saturday at the Field of Flight air show and balloon festival in Battle Creek, Michigan. Just one month ago Chris turned 40. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. The accident occurred around 1:10 p.m. during the pyrotechnic portion of the show at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, police said earlier. Pre-planned pyrotechnicexplosion on runway at air show. On their website, under the About Us section, youll find a short biography about Chris Darnell. In a release, police said that as Darnell drove his Shockwave Jet Truck down the Battle Creek Executive Airport runway at speeds of 340 mph, a piece of tire debris could be seen flying off the. Shockwave Jet Truck Crash at Michigan Airshow Aviation! Video 1 dead after Michigan airshow crash - ABC News Video shot by air show attendee Mike Westra showed the truck racing two planes, speeding down the runway before spinning and crashing. SHOCKWAVE jet truck driver killed in accident at Michigan air - CDLLife Just one month ago Chris turned 40. Check our . Shockwave Jet Truck Crash at Michigan Airshow Aviation! Scams - YouTube Battle Creek police say Chris Darnell was driving the truck powered by a jet engine down the runway at the Battle Creek Executive Airport around speeds of 300 mph when the fatal incident occurred. Michigans $1 billion pandemic rent fund is drying up. The team, which includes his fatherNeal Darnell, is based in Springfield, Missouri. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Shockwave Jet Truck driver Chris Darnell, 40, died Saturday during a fiery crash at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. Police: Blown tire likely cause of fatal Shockwave Jet Truck crash The remainder of the air show Saturday was canceled following the crash, according to a post on the festivals Facebook page. Horror footage shows the moment the vehicle exploded in front of shocked onlookers at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show in Michigan on Saturday. At least one person was killed when one of the most popular airshow attractions on the circuit, Shockwave, an old semitractor unit propelled by jet engines, crashed during an act at the Field of Flight airshow in Battle Creek Michigan on Saturday. in Greene County. Neal Darnell said he will continue to provide updates as the Shockwave and Flash Fire Jet Trucks team gets them. Shockwave has roots in the Joplin-Area and currently Shockwave Jet Truck is based in nearby Springfield, Mo. As the tire came apart it ruptured the fuel tank on the left side of the car and that, of course, initiated the fire. Scams & More News - TakingOff Taking Off 87K views Rare 'Birdcage' Corsair UPDATE! "Chris so loved the air show business. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Tragedy struck on July 2 in Battle Creek Michigan when the Shockwave Jet Truck crashed during a stunt, killing the. He comes to KOAM 7 News Now-CBS/FOX (Morgan-Murphy Media) with more than 30 years in media and entertainment. Jet Truck driver dies in accident at Michigan air show - MSN Chris Darnell, 40, died Saturday at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show, where he was driving the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck down a runway at more than 300 miles per hour, police said in a. Shockwave Jet Truck accident scene at the 2022 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show (Courtesy: Joseph W. Mancy) A truck crashed at the Battle Creek Airshow on July 2, 2022. One dead after 'jet truck' crash at Michigan air show, police say He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. We will provide Funeral Arrangements sometime this week. Video from an audience member shows the truck catching fire before flipping down the runway at Battle Creek Executive Airport. Nick Buckley, Battle Creek Enquirer. The accident occurred around 1 p.m. on July 2 at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival in Battle Creek, Michigan.