28 year old Alex Harvill has died in the Washington state of US after crashing while trying to break the world record for the longest motorcycle ramp jump. Officials said he died after an accident during a practice run on Thursday morning.
He was planning to attempt the 107m jump in front of spectators at the Moses Lake Airshow. A video of the incident shows his motorcycle landing shy of the intended target and crashing into a dirt mound. A local newspaper reported that Mr Harvill appeared to have been thrown over the handlebars and lost his helmet during the crash.
Local police spokesman confirmed he had died, while organisers of the Moses Lake Airshow originally said Harvill had been taken to hospital with injuries. “Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex’s family, friends and loved ones,” the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said.
He had spent the past two weeks preparing for the stunt, but had not yet jumped the ramp prior to Thursday’s first attempt.
Harvill was a professional motocross racer who also held two previous motorcycle jump records. He worked on a farm as a separate day job and listed stunt performer Evel Knievel among his inspirations.
In an interview with the Moses Lake Airshow organisers last month, Harvill said he had loved motorcycles his entire life and had grown up practicing jumps in the sand dunes where the event was being held.
The 28-year-old was married and his wife had recently given birth to the couple’s second son. A GoFundMe fundraiser aiming to support the family has already raised almost $40,000.
Source: bbc.com