Jessi Combs, Race Car Driver and TV Host, Dies in Jet-Car Crash

Update: Jessi Combs’ Fatal Crash Investigation: ‘There was a fire involved’

Aug 29, 2019 09:20 ~ Oregon police are attempting to retrieve laptop computers that were reportedly in the race car that was being driven by star Jessi Combs as she was attempting to break her own speed record during her fatal crash on August 27.

Lt. Brian Needham of the Harney County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that authorities are trying to recover laptops that were on-board the jet car (a race car propelled by a jet engine) which may hold additional keys for investigators.

Needham stated that “there was a fire involved” but would not elaborate.

“They’re waiting for the team to recover the [engine and systems] information stored on the inboard computers,” Needham told the New York Post.

39-year-old race car driver and TV personality Jessi Combs died tragically during an attempt to break her own land-speed record on Tuesday on a dry lake bed in Oregon.

Combs was attempting to hit 619 mph, Autoblog reports.

Combs had previously set the women’s land-speed world record for four-wheeled vehicles in 2013, driving the North American Eagle in which she made the record-breaking run in the Alvord Desert in Oregon with a reportedly average speed of 398 mph.

The previous record was 308 mph, which was set in 1965.

In a statement obtained by Autoblog, her family said;

“It is with extreme grief, and in celebration of her life that her family and close friends share that race car driver, and TV personality Jessi Combs, passed away in a fatal crash, where she was pursuing a land speed record in the North American Eagle on August, 27th 2019 on a dry lake bed in Oregon.”

“Jessi was known for her bright smile, positivity, and tenacious pursuit of the fulfillment of her dreams,” the statement continues. “Her drive was infectious, and she served as a role model for young Girls, and Women around the world. People that loved her and followed her became family, all bonded together by adventure and passion.

Her fans adored her, and she lived to inspire them. Jessi’s most notable dream was to become the fastest woman on Earth, a dream she had been chasing since 2012. Combs was one of the rare dreamers with the bravery to turn those possibilities into reality, and she left this earth driving faster than any other woman in history.”

Aside from racing, Combs also served as the co-host for “The List” along with stints on “Overhaulin’,” “Extreme 4×4” and “All Girls Garage.” She also appeared on as a part-time host on “Mythbusters.”

See: Celebrating the Life of Jessi Combs