Jessi Combs, the “fastest woman on four wheels,” died in a car accident in August. She was 39 years old.

Investigators now say the crash happened because of a mechanical failure.

Update, 11/5:

Investigators looking into the death of Jessi Combs back in August have concluded the crash that killed her was caused by a mechanical failure.

The Harney County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon reports that one of the front wheels failed, “most likely caused from striking an object in the desert.” Jessi’s car was moving too fast to recover from something like that. The release says she died from blunt force trauma.

Original story, 8/28:

Driver and all-around auto legend Jessi Combs died tragically in August after an accident in a jet-powered land-speed car in the Alvord Desert in Oregon, according to Road and Truck. She was 39 years old.

She passed away after trying to break her own land-speed record. Back in 2013, she went an astounding 398 mph in her jet-powered car, and she was trying to top it. She did hit 483.227 mph in October 2018, but that run apparently ended early because of mechanical issues, according to a post on her website.

A member of Combs’ team, Terry Madden, confirmed the awful news in an Instagram video today, explaining that there was a “horrific” crash.

Here’s what his caption says, in full:

“So I don’t know how to say any of this but it all needs [to be] 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 okay, but she is right here keeping me 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 none of them…we the family have drafted a release and it will come out today with more proper info, but I was just woken up by the media tracking me down and I need every one of her true friends to do what she would want, “take a deep breath, relax” and do good things with this. Please donate to nothing, I know there will be people trying, 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 (already 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.”

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Three days ago, Combs posted about her jet car on Instagram, with the caption, “It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire…those who are willing are those who achieve great things. People say I’m crazy. I say thank you ;)”

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Combs was best known as the “fastest woman on four wheels” thanks to the record-breaking speeds she was able to achieve and her sheer automotive skill. You might also recognize her from the many impressive television appearances she made. She was the cohost of the Spike TV show Xtreme 4x4 and she also appeared on Overhaulin’, Mythbusters, The List: 1001 Car Things to Do Before You Die, All Girls Garage, and How to Build…Everything.



Rest in peace, Jessi.

Alexandra Whittaker Senior News Editor Alexandra Whittaker is a senior editor who writes and edits all things news—follow her on Instagram here

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