[UPDATE] The Wasatch County Sheriff's Office has issued a statement about the tragic incident:
"On January 2, 2023 at approximately 2:00 p.m., the Wasatch County 911 Center received a call reporting a snowmobile accident in the Mill Hollow area.
Search and Rescue, along with law enforcement from Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, Utah State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service responded.
The driver, Kenneth Block, 55-year-old male out of Park City, Utah, was riding a snowmobile on a steep slope when the snowmobile upended, landing on top of him. He was pronounced deceased at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident.
Mr. Block was riding with a group but was alone when the accident occurred.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
We are saddened to hear of the loss of Kenneth and our hearts are with his family and friends so deeply affected.
We thank all of our first responders for their continued service."
According to a post on The Hoonigans Instagram account, rally driver and entrepreneur Ken Block has died in a snowmobile accident. The nature of the accident is unknown. Block was 55 years old.
In the brief announcement, The Hoonigans team states only that block "passed away in a snowmobile accident," with a request to respect the family's privacy in what will no doubt be a trying time.
The American Rally Association also shared condolences on Instagram. Block's wife Lucy posted a photo of 43, Block's famous racing number, to her Instagram account.
A truly inimitable talent, Block was an athlete who competed on skateboards, snowboards, and motorcycles, as well as behind the wheel of all manner of rally car. Many Motor1.com readers undoubtedly encountered Block by way of his singular Gymkhana videos, which date back to 2008.
Block recently partnered with Audi, working directly with engineers in Germany to build the all-electric S1 Hoonitron. Inspired by the legendary Audi S1 Quattro, Block recently drove it in his latest Gymkhana video set in Las Vegas.
Lesser known was Block's success in stage rally. Entering the Rally America championship at an age many drivers retire, he campaigned for several successful seasons. Those accomplishments led him to run select WRC events with Ford. Last year, his daughter Lia and wife Lucy competed against him in select American Rally Association events.
But Block was perhaps even more talented as a businessman and entrepreneur. Together with Damon Way (a college friend), Block co-founded the company that would become the skate brand DC Shoes in the early 1990s. The brand would grow rapidly over the next decade, entering the zeitgeist just as skating culture was beginning to catch fire, and helping propel Block to greater fame and opportunity.
Over the last decade, Block had a similar success story with his Hoonigan brand, which combined wild stunt videos, savvy marketing, and a love of racing into a merchandising and marketing force.
Block is survived by his wife Lucy, and their three children.
We will update this developing story as more information becomes available.
