Jackass Star Ryan Dunn Dies in Fatal Car Crash

Ryan Dunn, one of the stars of the popular MTV show and movie trilogy Jackass, and a member of the CKY Crew, died early this morning in a car crash in West Goshen, PA. An unidentified passenger was also killed in the crash.

Although the news generated the usual reports on traditional news sources, online and in print, a great number of Dunn’s fans and followers likely learned the news from their Twitter and/or Facebook feeds before consulting any news publications. The news has caused a sensation on Twitter, with fans, followers, and critics joining the conversation to share their condolences, concerns, questions, and opinions about the star and the accident.

Dunn’s Jackass co-star and friend Johnny Knoxville expressed his loss to his followers in the increasingly-popular 140-character Twitter obituary:

“Today I lost my brother Ryan Dunn. My heart goes out to his family and his beloved Angie. RIP Ryan , I love you buddy.”

Twitter has also made it into the news stories reporting the accident; hours before the event, Dunn posted a photo of himself drinking with some friends (the post has been since removed). Although “DUI” is not indicated anywhere in the accident report, the comments online posted to Twitter, Facebook, and to the various news stories published, indicate that the public has uniformly drawn a connection between the photo and the accident.

Officially, the investigation is indicating “speed” as the leading cause of the fatal crash. Nonetheless, this news is likely to lead to conversations about drinking and driving among those who have admired the Jackass stars for more than a decade.

As a younger member of the MTV generation and a casual fan of the Jackass series, I imagine I am only one of millions who heard the news “Ryan Dunn died” and immediately asked, “Was it a stunt?”

We sat on the edges of our seats for years, watching the daredevil stunts and general antics of the Jackass crew; the disclaimers that introduced each episode, along with the scoffs and warnings of our parents in the background of our minds. It seemed we were always torn between waiting for an accident (because it would be entertaining) and hoping there would be none (because an injury would only prove our parents right). As we watched them walk away from every ridiculous stunt, it never occurred to us that such a real-world occurrence as a car accident could ever claim one of these stars.

Dunn was born in Medina, Ohio, and grew up in Williamsville, New York. As a teenager, he moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, home of the CKY Crew that outdates his involvement with Jackass. Dunn is survived by brother Erick Dunn and long-time girlfriend Angie Cuturic. He was 34 years old.

Sources:

NBC Philadelphia

Huffington Post

Miami Herald