Advertisement
Home NEWS

Jessi Combs killed during record attempt

The 36-year-old record breaker lost control of the racer

Tributes have been paid to the professional driver

Advertisement

High-speed racing driver Jessi Combs has died after her attempt to break her own speed record went tragically wrong.

Combs, 36,  lost control of a jet-powered car on a dry lake bed in Alvord Desert, Oregon, around 4pm on Tuesday.

Dubbed the ‘fastest woman on four wheels,’ Combs appeared on TV show Mythbusters.

Days before her death, she spoke to her Instagram followers about her fresh record attempt.

Advertisement

‘It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire…’ she wrote. Adding,’those who are willing, are those who achieve great things.’

Her partner and teammate, Terry Madden, witnessed the crash and said ‘everything humanly possible’ had been done to try to save her.

In a heartbreaking post on Instagram, he called Combs a ‘unicorn’ and said she had the most ‘amazing spirit.’

Advertisement
Jessi Combs remembered by partner Terry Madden
Jessi Combs remembered by her partner Terry Madden (Credit: Instagram/Terry Madden)

Combs had previously set a speed record of 640km per an hour in her jet-powered North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger.

Related stories


Advertisement