In a statement, Battle Creek police identified Chris Darnell, 40, as the driver of the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck, a custom-built semi-truck equipped with three jet engines that raced down the runway at Battle Creek Executive Airport at more than 300 miles per hour.
The incident happened around 1:10 p.m. “during the pyrotechnics portion” of the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, police said earlier.
Video captured by airshow attendee Mike Westra shows the truck racing two planes as it speeds down the runway before spinning and crashing. Another video shows a parachute opening behind the truck just before the crash.
A thick cloud of black smoke and fire seen in the videos were part of the show’s pyrotechnic display and were unrelated to the incident, Westra told CNN. Videos show smoke and fire before the truck lost control.
Emergency services were at the airport on standby and responded quickly, Westra said. “Within a minute or two, they were pouring water on the fire,” Westra added.
Westra saw the charred remains after the fire was put out, he said, telling CNN: “He was left upside down.”
The accident is being investigated by the Battle Creek Police Department and Fire Department, police said.
The rest of Saturday’s air show was canceled after the crash, according to a post on the festival’s Facebook page.
The SHOCKWAVE jet truck is capable of speeds in excess of 350 miles per hour, according to the company’s website. According to the site, the truck was driven by Darnell and is owned by Darnell Racing Enterprises of Springfield, Missouri. In a statement, Darnell’s father, Neil Darnell, confirmed that his youngest son had died, writing that the accident occurred “as a result of a mechanical failure”.
“We are so sad,” wrote Neil Darnell. “Just a month ago Chris turned 40. He was so loved by all who knew him. Chris loved the air show business so much.”
CNN’s Sarah Smart contributed to this report.
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