Top Gear Presenter Richard Hammons in BAD CRASH

TV presenter critical after crash

The presenter is being treated at Leeds General Infirmary
Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car while filming for the programme.
The presenter, 36, was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary which has a special neurological unit.

A North Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman said he was unconscious when they got to the scene and a hospital spokesman described him as "critical".

The BBC confirmed the presenter had been injured during a Top Gear shoot.

Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers were dealing with the incident at Elvington airfield, a former RAF base, in North Yorkshire.

He said: "At 5.45pm this evening we received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in what was described as an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield.

"The male occupant has received serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital at Leeds."

The presenter was born in Birmingham, educated in Yorkshire and lives near Cheltenham.

In addition to presenting Top Gear for the BBC, he also fronted Brainiac on Sky One until recently.

Rupert - 9/20/2006 5:06:38 PM

+1 Boost

OH NO!
poor richard :(
hope he's ok...

matt635 - 9/20/2006 5:07:22 PM

+1 Boost

Hope 'Hamster' is okay.

Sauceboy01 - 9/20/2006 5:08:19 PM

+1 Boost

Hope he's ok as well!

Hyundai - 9/20/2006 5:14:16 PM

+1 Boost

Hammy, don't go...

Who's gonna keep the teeth-whitening industry alive?

mstangpny07 - 9/20/2006 5:14:21 PM

+1 Boost

that sucks!

phantom330 - 9/20/2006 5:20:24 PM

+1 Boost

that's too bad, I hope he is okay.

Speaking of Top Gear, when will the US ever get it back? I'm going thru withdraw.

synx - 9/20/2006 5:26:04 PM

+1 Boost

sorry to hear that-i liked him. hope he will be okay. also, his name is hammond not hammons-the d and s keys are next to each other on the keyboard, easy mistake to make.

Rupert - 9/20/2006 5:57:02 PM

+1 Boost

1995, you dare suggest the jc, my hero, should have crashed.....

Sauceboy01 - 9/20/2006 6:26:37 PM

+1 Boost

Bullocks!

chewy - 9/20/2006 7:21:42 PM

+1 Boost

More bad automotive media related news, both on the same day. Hopefully both will be alright.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2006/09/20/breaking-paul-frere-seriously-injured/

Mark - 9/21/2006 8:52:14 AM

+1 Boost

Get back to health soon Rich, someone needs to watch over Jeremy.

EvoAudi - 9/21/2006 10:24:59 AM

+1 Boost

he was my hero

(just for dramatic effect)