If someone heard that some poor soul died at a broadcast because their car had mechanical problems at 300 mph, you would assume it was a jet plane. , exactly.Even so, few would guess that it was a jet-powered pickup. Last weekend, Chris Darnell, 40, sadly lost his life after His jet Peterbilt crashed at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Ballon Festival in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Early afternoon on July 2, Chris Darnell in his Shockwave truck raced two jets in opposite directions down the tarmac at Battle Creek Operations Airport. The Shockwave is a modified 1984 Peterbilt powered by three Westinghouse J34-WE-48 engines. The engines generate enough thrust for the Shockwave to overcome speeds of more than 300 mph. During the race, Shockwave rolled after it dashed through the fireworks display. Even at a distance, the light from the truck’s metal debris could still be seen. Sadly, there is little chance that Darnell could have survived the crash.
Chris’s father, Neal Darnell, stated on Jet truck Facebook page that the problem was caused by an unspecified mechanical error. He will continue, stating:
“I will post more information as we receive it. We will have a funeral sometime this week. We are very sad. Just a month ago Chris turned 40 years old. He is very much loved by everyone who knows him. Chris loves the Airshow business. He was “Living the dream” as he said. “
From the wave of condolences following his death, it is clear that Chris Darnell is a respected and beloved member of the broadcasting community. The speed and visual spectacle of a jet-powered pickup is certainly a crowd-pleaser, but it’s sometimes easy to forget the danger involved until moments like that. this.
