Motorsports Legend Ken Block Passes in Snowmobiling Accident
The motorsports and snowmobiling communities were gutted to hear the news of the passing of Ken Block in a snowmobiling accident on January 2, 2023.
It has been reported that Block, aged 55, was snowmobiling near his Park City ranch in Northeastern Utah. He had been riding with a group, but was alone at the time of the incident.
Block’s death is attributed to injuries sustained after his snowmobile “upended, landing on top of him,” according to a social media post by the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the emergency call.
The post states:
“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.”
While Block achieved initial success as co-founder of D.C. Shoes and in his storied career in WRC and Rallycross racing, he is perhaps best known to the younger generation of motorsports enthusiasts for his Gymkhana series on YouTube.
Block had been a long time ambassador for Ski-Doo and Can-Am, in addition to his many other collaborations across motorsports in connection to his motorsports brand, Hoonigan Racing Division.
@kblock43 It’s been DUMPING snow in Park City, Utah this week with more forecasted for the weekend, and we wouldn’t be able to make it out to the ranch without the Ski-Doos and @kubotatractorcorporation ♬ original sound – Ken Block
Block’s sharing of his life’s adventures through social and other media outlets had reached and impacted so many people in the motorsports and snowmobiling communities.
His passing is a great loss, and Mountain Sledder offers its deepest condolences to Block’s family, friends, colleagues and to everyone who has been touched in some way by his exceptional life.
– MS
