Mythbusters star Jessi Combs dies in 'horrific' high-speed crash

TV host and race car driver Jessi Combs has been killed while attempting to set a new land-speed record in a jet-powered car. 

The 36-year-old's untimely death was confirmed by local authorities, who said Combs died on Tuesday afternoon while racing on a dry lake bed in Oregon's Alvord Desert. 

Mythbusters star Jessi Combs dies in 'horrific' high-speed crash
Photo credit: Instagram/Jessi Combs

Combs' teammate and friend Terry Madden said in an Instagram post that he'd made a promise to her to "do good with it" if the record attempt didn't go well. 

"I have never loved or been loved by anyone as much as this amazing woman @thejessicombs she was truly my unicorn and I enjoyed every single minute that I had with her," he wrote. 

"She was the most amazing spirit that I have ever or will ever know. Unfortunately, we lost her yesterday in a horrific accident, I was the first one there and trust me we did everything humanly possible to save her!! 

"I'm not ok, but she is right here keeping me going - I made her a promise that if this didn't go well that I would make sure and do good with it, please help me with that…" 

Meanwhile, a statement from Combs' friends and family remembered her as a "rare dreamer", who "left this earth driving faster than any other woman in history". 

In one of her final Instagram posts, Combs shared a photo of her walking towards her North American Eagle jet vehicle with the caption: "It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire... those who are willing, are those who achieve great things." 

"People say I'm crazy. I say thank you." 

Combs, known as the 'fastest woman on four wheels' for the astonishing speeds she reached in her jet car, was a Mythbusters presenter and featured on other shows such as Spike TV's Extreme 4X4.

Newshub.