Ken Block (right) behind the wheel with Jay Leno (left) riding shotgun.

Ken Block, world-renowned rally driver, stuntman and Hoonigan Industries-cofounder, has died as a result of a snowmobile crash on January 2nd.

News was reported by official Hoonigan social media pages; however, a social media statement was posted by the Utah-based Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page detailing the events.

In the report, Block was said to have been riding his snowmobile on a steep slope when it upended, landing on top of him.The statement declares that Block was riding with a group; however, he was alone when the incident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene, passing at 55 years old.

Ken Block hardly needs an introduction, having began his racing career in the mid-2000’s as a rally driver. He snagged Rookie of the Year in the 2005 Rally America Championship, continuing to race with growing success and taking on various X Games challenges– boasting five medals from the extreme sports event. 

But perhaps the titles most associated with the name “Ken Block” aren’t those of championships and medals, but of Hoonigan Industries and the Gymkhana series. A brand built by car enthusiasts and for car enthusiasts, Hoonigan was all about performance driving, shredding tires and pulling off some insane stunts through the Gymkhana installments; the most recent of which, Gymkhana “ELECTRIKHANA,” took place in Las Vegas. The stars: An Audi S1 “HOONITRON” driven by none other than Ken Block.

Aside from the viral videos and podium finishes, Ken Block was a key figure in what became a form of automotive representation for an entire generation. How many “HOONIGAN” stickers do you see on the road? Plenty, and more often than not they’re rocked by a younger audience held captive by Ken Block’s vision.

One glance at the comments, both on the ELECTRIKHANA video and official Hoonigan posts, show an overwhelming outpouring of love and respect for the late Ken Block. We, along with the rest of the car world, are lamenting the loss of a modern automotive icon.