One person has died after an accident during the “pyrotechnic portion” of a Michigan air show, police said.
The accident happened Saturday just after 1 p.m. at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival held at Battle Creek Executive Airport.
Chris Darnell, 40, died while driving a racing truck called the Shockwave Jet Truck during the air show, police said in an update Saturday night. The incident is under investigation.
Dramatic video from airshow goers captured the truck racing two planes on the runway before the accident happened. A small fire behind the truck can be seen as the vehicle slides past a large fireball and crashes.
“Oh boy, we’ve had an accident with our Shockwave here at the Air Show Center,” the announcer can be heard saying after the accident.
One person died during the “pyrotechnic portion” of an air show in Battle Creek, Michigan on July 2, 2022.
Michael Mullett
The Battle Creek Fire Department, Battle Creek Police Department and FAA responded to the scene, police said.
Police have not released any further information during the investigation.
The remainder of Saturday’s air show was canceled “out of respect for the incident that occurred,” Battle Creek Field of Flight said in a statement. Saturday night’s activities were to resume at the festival, which will continue until Monday.
Shockwave, a custom race truck, is owned by Darnell Racing Enterprises, based in Springfield, Missouri. ABC News has reached out to the company for comment.
The truck, which is equipped with three flame-shooting jet engines, can race at over 350 miles per hour, according to its owners. He makes frequent appearances at air shows and drag racing expos around the country.
According to the biography on the Darnell Racing website, Darnell has been involved in motorsports “all his life” and worked with his father in the business.
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