Sky News is reporting Top Gear's Richard Hammond was:
"...reportedly driving a jet-powered Vampire car when it overturned. Mr Hammond was said to have been reaching speeds of up to 280mph as the accident happened."
The Vampire, sponsored by the Swedish company Thule, weighs 2,200 lbs, is 30 feet long and drinks 7-10 gallons of fuel per mile (depending on the speed). The jet-car accelerates from 0 to 272 mph in six seconds and is powered by a Rolls Royce Orpheus jet engine and is theoretically capable of 370mph. The Vampire holds the "Outright British Land Speed Record" with a blistering fast 300.3mph. Sky News continues with some first hand accounts of the accident after the jump.
"Firefighter Dave Ogden, who witnessed the crash, told Sky News that the 36-year-old presenter was able to speak as he was taken out of the wreckage of the car.
Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers were dealing with the incident at the airfield northeast of York where the filming was taking place.
He said: "At 5.45pm this evening we received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in what was described as an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield.
"The male occupant has received serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital at Leeds."
Top Gear Man In Crash [Sky News]
UPDATE — September 21, 2006: Scene Of The Crash: BBC Video Report On Richard Hammond
UPDATE #2 — September 21, 2006: Huzzah! Richard Hammond Now Described In "Stable Condition" After Jet-Car Crash
UPDATE #3 — September 22, 2006: Update: Richard Hammond "Making Progress"
Related:
Breaking! Top Gear Presenter Richard Hammond In Car Crash [internal]