Ken Block, rally driver and YouTube star, dies in snowmobile crash

Ken Block, an American rally driver turned YouTube star, died Monday afternoon in a snowmobile accident in Mill Hollow, Utah. He was 55 years old.

Block was “driving a snowmobile down a steep hill when the snowmobile rolled over, landing on him,” the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement shared on Facebook.

Block had “ridden with a group but was alone when the accident happened,” the sheriff’s office said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hoonigan Industries, the automotive media and apparel company owned by Block, confirmed his death on Instagram.

“It is with our deepest regrets that we confirm that Ken Block passed away today in a snowmobile accident,” the company said. “Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And above all, a father and a husband. We will miss him terribly. »

Block’s competitive rally career began in 2005. He rose to worldwide fame through his Gymkhana series on YouTube. Videos on his Hoonigan channel have amassed over a billion views and 5 million subscribers.

The American Rally Association paid tribute to Block around the world, hailing him as “a massive influence on everything he touched, including the global world of rallying.”

Former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button described it as “a true visionary with his own unique style and infectious smile”.