Alex Harvill
{{Short description|American motorcycle stuntman (1992–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alex Harvill
| birth_name =
| image = Alex Harvill 2014 (3x4 cropped).jpg
| caption = Harvill in 2014
| birth_date = {{birth date|1992|09|11}}
| birth_place = Corona, California, U.S.{{cite web |url=http://www.alexharvill.com |title=ALEX HARVILL – Official Site |access-date=June 19, 2021}}
| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2021|06|17|28}}
| death_place = Grant County, Washington, U.S.
| death_cause = Practice collision
| occupation = Stunt performer
| children = 2
}}
Alex Harvill (September 11, 1992 – June 17, 2021) was an American motocross racer and stunt performer. On May 12, 2012, he set a Guinness World Record for the longest ramp-to-dirt motorcycle jump at {{convert|425|ft|2}}. On July 6, 2013, he set a Guinness World Record for the longest dirt-to-dirt motorcycle jump at {{convert|297.55|ft}}.
Biography
Harvill was born in Corona, California, on September 11, 1992.{{Cite web |date=23 June 2021 |title=Alex Pete Harvill |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/tributes/in_memoriam/alex-pete-harvill/article_da087b58-be1d-5ebd-b154-75313849950f.html |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=The Wenatchee World |language=en}} He had a strong interest in riding bikes since he was four years old.{{Cite web|last=Featherstone|first=Charles H.|date=May 27, 2021|title=Wheels up: Moses Lake native aims to jump his way into the record book|url=https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/may/27/wheels-moses-lake-native-aims-jump-his-way-record-/|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=Columbia Basin Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618005909/https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/may/27/wheels-moses-lake-native-aims-jump-his-way-record-/ |archive-date=June 18, 2021 }} He was a professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the American AMA and Canadian Pro Motocross series. On May 12, 2012, Harvill set a Guinness World Record for the longest ramp-to-dirt motorcycle jump. Jumping {{convert|425|ft|2}} at Toes MX Park in Royal City, Washington.{{Cite web |last=Pettingill |first=Rebecca |date=2022-08-31 |title=Record-breaking jump |url=https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2022/aug/31/record-breaking-jump/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Columbia Basin Herald |language=en}} On July 6, 2013, Harvill set a Guinness World Record for the longest dirt-to-dirt motorcycle ramp jump, jumping {{convert|297.55|ft}} at the Horn Rapids Motorsports Complex in West Richland, Washington.{{cite web |title=Longest dirt to dirt motorcycle ramp jump |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/112184-longest-dirt-to-dirt-motorcycle-ramp-jump |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |access-date=June 18, 2021}} In April 2017, during a practice ramp-to-ramp jump at the Talladega Superspeedway, Harvill took off with great speed over shooting the landing ramp. He landed with such force that his front tire exploded, sending him flying over his handlebars and breaking one of his heels when he hit the ground. His attempt at a world record motorcycle jump at Talladega Superspeedway on May 7 (during the Monster Energy at the 2017 Geico 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race) was subsequently canceled due to the injury.{{Cite web|last=James|first=Brant|date=April 24, 2017|title=Record motorcycle jump attempt before Talladega race on May 7 canceled|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2017/04/24/alex-harvill-world-record-motorcycle-jump-attempt-canceled/100869448/|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426120453/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2017/04/24/alex-harvill-world-record-motorcycle-jump-attempt-canceled/100869448/ |archive-date=April 26, 2017 }}
Death and aftermath
On June 17, 2021, Harvill was scheduled to perform a ramp jump at the Moses Lake Airshow, being held at Grant County International Airport in Washington, in an attempt to break a {{Convert|351|ft|adj=on}} record set by Australian biker Robbie Maddison in 2008.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/18/us/alex-harvill-death/index.html |title=Daredevil Alex Harvill dies while practicing for a world record motorcycle jump |last=Rose |first=Andy |publisher=CNN |date=June 18, 2021 |access-date=June 18, 2021}} This jump would have been equivalent to the length of an American football field from goalpost to goalpost.{{cite news |last=Baer |first=Jack |date=June 17, 2021 |title=Daredevil dies while attempting world-record motorcycle jump |publisher=Yahoo Sports |url=https://www.yahoo.com/sports/daredevil-alex-harvill-dies-world-record-motorcycle-jump-002726827.html |access-date=June 17, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/stuntman-crashes-and-rushed-to-hospital/293-e078a364-de95-4dee-8594-ea2ce3f86446 |title=Motorcycle stuntman dies in crash at Moses Lake Airshow during world-record attempt |last=Trau |first=Morgan |publisher=KREM-TV |date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=June 18, 2021}} On a practice jump, Harvill crashed into the top edge of the dirt landing ramp and was thrown from his bike, flying {{Convert|20|ft}} and losing his helmet. The accident was filmed by a news crew from KREM in Spokane, Washington, which did not broadcast footage of the crash out of respect. Medical personnel were standing by due to the dangerous nature of the stunt; an emergency medical technician reached Harvill about two and a half minutes after the crash. Harvill died en route to a hospital.
On June 18, 2021, the Grant County Sheriff's Office announced that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the exact cause of Harvill's death.{{Cite web|last=Featherstone|first=Charles H.|date=June 17, 2021|title=Tragedy in Moses Lake: Motorcyclist dies after jump try|url=https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/jun/17/daredevil-dies-record-breaking-jump-attempt/|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=Columbia Basin Herald|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618001108/https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/jun/17/daredevil-dies-record-breaking-jump-attempt/ |archive-date=June 18, 2021 }} According to the findings released by the Grant County Coroner's office on June 19, 2021, Harvill sustained blunt force trauma to the torso which led to his death and that the impact from the handlebars on the motorbike was the likely cause of the deadly injuries.{{Cite web|last=Goggins|first=Shawn|date=June 19, 2021|title=Coroner releases findings into death of Alex Harvill|url=https://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/coroner-releases-findings-into-death-of-alex-harvill/article_fbe9e574-d11a-11eb-96f9-07ebc4abda1f.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|publisher=iFIBER One News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619215815/https://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/coroner-releases-findings-into-death-of-alex-harvill/article_fbe9e574-d11a-11eb-96f9-07ebc4abda1f.html |archive-date=June 19, 2021 }}{{Cite web |last=Trau |first=Morgan |date=June 18, 2021 |title=Grant County Coroner rules stuntman's death accidental |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/stuntman-dies-at-moses-lake-airshow-how/293-c3661727-50ce-47eb-a04d-49cf835e9d28 |access-date=2022-02-08 |website=KREM-TV |language=en-US}} A public memorial was held for Harvill on June 30 in his hometown of Ephratra.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Kelley |date=June 30, 2021 |title=Memorial for stuntman Alex Harvill to be held in Ephrata on Wednesday |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/alex-harvill-memorial-wednesday/293-18ff7c0e-35dd-4325-8781-03e3a339e6e4 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=KREM-TV |language=en-US}}
In August 2022, Guinness World Records officially approved and recognized his May 12, 2012, {{convert|425|ft|2|adj=on}} ramp-to-dirt motorcycle jump.
= Reactions =
Hours after the initial incident, Robbie Maddison posted his condolences to Harvill and his family via Instagram, saying he was "shattered" by the news, also stating "[He] was out to set a new world record today when he paid the ultimate price. My heart is broken for his family."{{Cite web|last=Osborne|first=Mark|date=June 17, 2021|title=Motorcycle daredevil Alex Harvill dies in crash practicing for world record jump|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/motorcycle-daredevil-alex-harvill-dies-crash-practicing-world/story?id=78346962|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|publisher=ABC News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618001105/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/motorcycle-daredevil-alex-harvill-dies-crash-practicing-world/story?id=78346962 |archive-date=June 18, 2021 }} On June 18, Guinness World Records posted a statement via Twitter that read "We are saddened to learn of the passing of record holder and motorcycle stunt rider, Alex Harvill. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends."{{Cite web|date=June 18, 2021|title=Guinness World Records releases statement about death of Alex Harvill|url=https://www.khq.com/news/guinness-world-records-releases-statement-about-death-of-alex-harvill/article_eb4614c6-d080-11eb-8427-a3737aa5e854.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 20, 2021|publisher=KHQ Right Now|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619205043/https://www.khq.com/news/guinness-world-records-releases-statement-about-death-of-alex-harvill/article_eb4614c6-d080-11eb-8427-a3737aa5e854.html |archive-date=June 19, 2021 }}
Personal life
Harvill lived in Ephrata, Washington. Harvill worked at a farm in Othello as his main occupation and considered his motorcycle stunt career a passion. He had a wife and two sons.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harvill, Alex}}
Category:American motorsport people
Category:American stunt performers
Category:Filmed deaths in motorsport
Category:Filmed deaths in the United States
Category:Motorcycle stunt performers
Category:People from Ephrata, Washington
Category:Sports deaths in Washington (state)
Category:Sportspeople from Corona, California