We received this e-mail from a tipster this afternoon:

"I have it from a friend whose friend owns a ranch in Portugal that poor Jeremy Clarkson is dead, victim of a horse accident during a stunt. The accident happened on a ranch [nearby]. The incident is being hushed up for now because of big legal implications."

Holy shit. If this is true, we truly can't believe that Clarkson's gone. Although we often disagreed with the Top Gear presenter, we loved his wit and his way with a turn of phrase. He was one of the truest scholars ever to comment on motoring, as well as one of the funniest. He was spotted yesterday at the Cornbury Festival in the UK, but let's face it, it's not a long flight from Blighty to Portugal. If this turns out to be true, look for a full obit penned by all Jalopnik staffers. The man was truly one of the giants of the industry. Stay tuned. We'll keep you posted.

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