Sad news today for fans of the Mythbusters and of amazingly badass women in general.
Jessi Combs was killed on Tuesday at just 36 years old.
An OG build team member for the hit Discovery Channel show, Jessi went on to become literally “The Fastest Woman On Four Wheels” in 2013 when she broke a nearly five decade record for land speed by getting a jet car up to about 398 miles per hour. She later broke her own record in 2016 with an uncanny 478 mph.
Related: YouTube Star Killed In Paragliding Accident
Apparently Jessi was attempting to set a new record on Tuesday when something went wrong and the vehicle — which was set to attempt nearly 500 mph — crashed in the Alvord Desert, killing the TV personality.
Jessi’s boyfriend confirmed the tragic news on Wednesday, writing on Instagram:
“So I don’t know how to say any of this but it all needs said. 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!! I’m not ok, but she is right here keeping my going-I made her a promise that if this didn’t go well that I would make sure and do good with it, please help me with that, you are all going to see things on news please believe non of them.. we the family have drafted a release and it will come out today with more proper info, but I was just woke up by the media tracking me down and I need everyone of her true friends to do what she would want “take a deep breath, relax” and do good things with this.”
He also warned about anyone setting up fake charities in her name:
“Please donate to nothing, I know there will be people try, we are finishing the documentary as she wished and the world will know the truth and her foundation will use those funds to do amazing things in this world and make her legacy live on properly. In the coming days her family and I will get the proper channels put together that you can then donate to that foundation but until you hear it from me wait please-I don’t want some asshole profiting off this (all ready had one try to sell us a video)…
.
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.”
Jessi was part of the Mythbusters team for years. She later joined the documentary series Overhaulin’.
Here’s one of her classic moments, testing whether an action movie trope of climbing onto a helicopter as it takes off is possible:
The Mythbuster crew took to Twitter to mourn their former costar, with star Adam Savage writing:
“I’m so so sad, Jessi Combs has been killed in a crash. She was a brilliant & too-notch builder, engineer, driver, fabricator, and science communicator, & strove everyday to encourage others by her prodigious example. She was also a colleague, and we are lesser for her absence.
My heart goes out to her family.“
Kari Byron wrote:
“So sad to hear about Jessi. She was a badass. Always pushing limits. Sending smiles into the universe for her.”
Tory Belleci wrote:
“Absolutely gutted to hear the news of @thejessicombs You’re a legend Jessi and I will miss you my friend.”
Grant Imahara wrote:
“So sorry to hear about Jessi. She was a talented builder and host, and above all, a go-getter.”
Such an unexpected loss.
#RIP Jessi.
[Image via Judy Eddy/WENN/Jessi Combs/Instagram.]
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