Pro Rally Driver Ken Block Passes Away at 55 After Tragic Snowmobile Incident

Hoonigan co-founder and pro rally driver Ken Block has passed away at the age of 55 after a snowmobile accident on Monday, January 2, authorities have confirmed.

Block was originally known as the co-founder of the sportswear brand DC shoes before making a name for himself in rallying. The pro driver had been named the Rookie of the Year in the 2005 Rally America Championship. Over the years, he became a fixture in the World Rally Championship and collected rally cross medals at the X Games. Block would go on to establish Hoonigan, together with the acclaimed Gymkhana video series, attracting millions of views on YouTube.

Apart from racing, Block also entered the realms of snowboarding and snowmobiling, among other winter sports.

"It's with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today," a statement from Hoonigan writes. "Ken was a visionary, a pioneer, and an icon. And most importantly, a father and a husband."

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>pMeanwhile, Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner, likewise, found himself in a separate snow-plowing incident, as well. He is currently in critical but stable condition in Reno, Nevada, his representative confirms. The star remains in the intensive care unit.>pRenner, who owns a home in the Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe area, had “suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries" last Sunday, January 1, according to the official statement. He was flown out of the location and was immediately taken to a local hospital for surgery the following day. The sheriff's office in Washoe County said that, fortunately, no other people were harmed in the incident. Early on during the month of December, the actor had been posting updates about the weather around his home.>pALSO READ:>pHawkeye Revealed a Major Villain, But We Kinda Have Bigger Things Going on Right Now>pHawkeye's Season Finale Leaves Nearly Everyone's MCU Futures in the Air>pThe 51-year-old and his family expressed their gratitude to the public after the news broke out. They are “tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans," as per Renner's official reps.>pBest known for his stint with Marvel’s Avengers superheroes team, Renner has twice been nominated for an Oscar during his career for his roles in The Hurt Locker in 2008 and The Town in 2010. He currently stars in the Paramount+ thriller Mayor of Kingstown, with a second season coming in the next week. Rennervations, on other hand, is another project of his that is set to debut on Disney+ this year, too.>pThis story will be updated upon further information.>p