Automotive legend Jessi Combs passed away on Tuesday
While attempting to beat her land speed record of 398mph on Tuesday (August 27), she crashed her vehicle in the Alvard Desert, which is roughly 90 miles south of Burns, Oregon – a place she so often drove.
According to ABC 7, “The Harney County Sheriff’s Office said it was called to a scene of a fatal crash. [She] was identified as the sole fatality connected to the accident.”
Combs was trained in fabrication and hot-rod building at WyoTech, making a career in hosting, building, and being a technical expert on shows like Xtreme 4×4, Overhaulin’, Truck U, and Two Guys Garage. She then starred in Velocity channel’s All Girls Garage and was a host and builder on Discovery Channel’s popular show Mythbusters.
She also competed in a variety of racing events. She became the first woman to place at Ultra4’s King of the Hammers, and performed very well in every race she entered including the Baja 1000, Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, and was the very first woman to race in The Race of Gentlemen.
Surrounded by her family and friends at the time of her passing, Jessi lived fearlessly and her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.
Jessi is known for her hosting work on television series including “All Girls Garage”, “Overhaulin’ “, Extreme 4×4 and Autoblog’s “The List”.
Jessi is survived by her Mother Nina (Chuck, niece NIna Alayne) Darrington, Father Jamie (Sandy) Combs, brother Kelly Combs (Cary, Eli, Ethan and Anna), sisters Danielle Theis (Jacin, Justice, Nation), Brother Austin Darrington (Leah, Lane) Kayla Green, Kyrie Darrington, Natasha Darrington
Step sisters Rebekah Hall (son Aaren Kearns), Arielle Hall (son Dru Hanson). And Jessi‘s love Terry Madden and his son Dalton.
A celebration of Jessi’s life in being planned and a foundation is being created to continue her efforts to empower women and young girls to follow their dreams.”
The first person on the scene was actually a man previously reported as a member of her team, but in reality, he was her boyfriend. Terry Madden shared a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday about it.
“So I don’t know how to say any of this but it all needs said,” he wrote. “I have never loved or been loved by anyone as much as this amazing woman @thejessicombs she was truly my unicorn and I enjoyed every single minute that I had with her. She was the most amazing spirit that I have ever or will ever know. Unfortunately we lost her yesterday in a horrific accident, I was the first one there and trust me we did everything humanly possible to save her!!”
He accompanied what he wrote with a memorial video.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1tUB2lHGKX/?utm_source=ig_embed
The New York Post reported that police officers are attempting to recover laptop computers which were in the vehicle to try to determine what went wrong. Lt. Brian Needham of the Harney County Sheriff’s Office wasn’t able to say if her vehicle hit something, but did say, “there was a fire involved.”
He ended the post by saying, “Love you all and thank you all for being such amazing friends to her, she dedicated her life to helping support others dreams and I promise I will continue that.”
Watch the sweet video Madden posted on his Instagram in honor of Valentine’s Day this year.