Rally and racing game star Ken Block dies in accident

Pro rally driver Ken Block, known by many video game players for his appearances in DiRT and Forza, has died aged 55 after a snowmobile accident.

“It’s with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today,” Block’s team Hoonigan Racing said in a statement on Monday. “Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed.”

The Sheriff’s Office in Wasatch County, Utah said Block was riding a snowmobile on a steep slope when the snowmobile upended, landing on top of him.

As well as being a pro rally driver and popular YouTuber, Block will be familiar to a generation of video game players.

Block appeared in three installments of Codemasters‘ Dirt racing video games as a driver and gymkhana teacher. His Monster World Rally Team vehicles are also available in the game.

Block also appeared in the 2015 Need for Speed video game as the style icon, and his Hoonigan-branded cars featured in Microsoft‘s Forza racing video game series.

The official Forza Horizon Twitter wrote on Tuesday: “Devastating news about the loss of @kblock43 – he was a legend in Motorsports and will be dearly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family and the team at @TheHoonigans”.