Evel Knievel was a global sensation in the 1960s and 70s thanks to his death-defying motorcycle jumps, but he also suffered a number of horrific crashes during his career
Whether it was rattlesnakes and mountain lions, buses or canyons, American daredevil Evel Knieval wanted to jump over it.
In fact it seems it was all he ever did, regardless of risk to life and limb. Throughout his career, which spanned the 60s and 70s, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps, becoming a global sensation along the way. There was even a toy range of the star-spangled stuntman, worth more than £100 million. But while many of the jumps he made were landed successfully, he also crashed a few spectacularly.
But, in spite of a list of injuries that would make any sane person jack it all in, he just kept on riding. And what a list of injuries it was, the bloke just didn’t know when to quit. Until he finally did.
So, for your reading pleasure, the Daily Star has collated a collection of some of Knievel’s worst accidents.
Missoula Auto Track in Missoula
The initial jumps of Knieval’s career were relatively mild, involving him leaping over several cars or pickup trucks at once. However, in June 1966, he decided to up the ante by adding 12 cars (and a cargo van) to the equation. This stunt caught the attention of people nationwide. His subsequent crash not only provided a spectacle but also generated a wealth of publicity for himself.
But he also learned a painful lesson, the extra cargo van simply wasn’t worth it, as he walked away from the event nursing a broken arm and ribs. I don’t think he paid heed.
Caesar’s Palace
On New Year’s Eve in 1967, Knievel attempted to soar over the iconic fountain at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on his motorbike. The stunt went awry when Knievel botched the landing of his 141-foot leap.
He later recounted that he felt the motorcycle decelerate unexpectedly as he hit the takeoff ramp. This sudden loss of power caused Knievel to fall short and land on the safety ramp, which was propped up by a van. The impact ripped the handlebars from his grip, sending him tumbling onto the pavement and skidding into the Dunes hotel car park.
The crash left Knievel with a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist, and both ankles, and a concussion that landed him in hospital. Rumours swirled that he was in a coma for 29 days in the hospital, but this was debunked by his wife and others in the documentary film, Being Evel.
Snake River Canyon
Originally, Knievel had intended to leap over the Grand Canyon on his motorcycle. But due to being unable to secure airspace permission from the government, he was forced to find a new location; eventually choosing Idaho’s famous Snake River Canyon.
In a daring 1974 stunt, Evel Knievel swapped his motorbike for a steam-powered rocket, the Skycycle X-2, attempting to launch himself across the 1600ft-wide chasm. The outcome was less than ideal.
After initially taking off successfully, Knievel’s venture turned south when his emergency parachute deployed prematurely, causing an anticlimactic spiral down to the canyon floor. Knievel later admitted he would’ve faced certain doom in the water due to being strapped into his malfunctioning harness. Yet, he miraculously walked away from the botched leap with only minor injuries.
Wembley Stadium
Evel Knievel brought his daredevil spirit to London’s Wembley Stadium in 1975, aiming to clear 13 single-decker buses on his motorbike. He came agonisingly close to succeeding but ultimately crashed on the final bus.
Before an eager crowd of 80,000 spectators, a battered Knievel, nursing a broken pelvis, resolutely declared: “You are the last people in the world who will ever see me jump because I will never, ever, ever jump again.”
Ignoring advice to be stretchered off and in near shock, Knievel proudly walked out of the stadium, proclaiming, “I came in walking, I went out walking!”.
Moses Lake, Washington
While it doesn’t technically count as an injury to the daredevil himself, this incident is worth noting due to the heightened risk involved. As a spectator at such adrenaline-fuelled events, you don’t expect to find yourself in a potentially fatal situation.
However, in 1966, while attempting to generate buzz for his motorcycle dealership, Knievel declared he would attempt to leap over a box filled with rattlesnakes, and a mountain lion. His publicity stunt drew a crowd of over 1,000 eager onlookers to witness his audacious jump.
Yet, it transpired that the spectators were in greater peril than the jumper himself. Upon landing, the rear tyre of Knievel’s bike inadvertently struck the back of the crate, releasing a horde of rattlesnakes into the crowd.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
