Breaking news: Racer Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash

by Kevin Kelly { Sep 16th 2007 at 4:03AM }

[Update: Codemasters, publisher of the Colin McRae games, has issued an official statement.]

A sad day for fans of racer Colin McRae on Saturday as news broke that he died in a helicopter crash. He was apparently piloting a chopper near his home in Lanarkshire when something went tragically wrong, and according to eyewitnesses it exploded in a fireball. ~~It's not known who else was onboard with him, but some reports say his five year old son may have been aboard as well.~~ McRae's five-year-old son was also killed in the crash.

The official Colin McRae website is completely black as a sign of mourning, and our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this tragedy. The last video game bearing his name, Colin McRae: DiRT was released earlier this summer, and sold over 500k copies in its first week of release. Born in Lanark in 1968, McRae was the son of five-time British Rally Champion, Jimmy McRae. He was the first Briton to be named world champion when he won the event in the mid-1990s and was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his outstanding achievements.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, Colin McRae, ColinMcrae, DiRT, rally, tragedy

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Patrick @ Sep 16th 2007 4:19AM

Breaking? ahhh this story is old..

Still sad news.. :(

Ihya @ Sep 16th 2007 4:31AM

It's less than 24 hours old you spoon, how is that old?

Patrick @ Sep 16th 2007 4:39AM

12 hours is a long time in internet land. Besides kotaku had something up a good 8hrs ago.

mr mobius @ Sep 16th 2007 4:40AM

Not old, it just happened yesterday, and I guess Joystiq was waiting for official info on the crash because there was speculation whether it was Colin in the crash or someone else flying his helicopter.

Its a sad day for rallying and he was a great driver. He always seemed optimistic and I guess he lived life on the edge enjoying himself. I guess he lived more than some people who live til 80.

R.I.P. I guess.

Obie @ Sep 16th 2007 8:25AM

On some websites they ban people for posting:"First" or "Old!" They should start doing that here too.

And condolences to Colin's family, he seemed like a nice guy.

Todd @ Sep 16th 2007 10:34AM

RIP, the Rally will never the the same :(

Kazi @ Sep 16th 2007 4:11PM

His point was that it wasn't breaking news because it wasn't super new. Which I'm sure is a common misconception of breaking news. Most people probably think it means it just happened people are on the scene the helicopter is still burning ect. Breaking news just means it interrupts something. Watching Friends, BAM, BREAKING NEWS, GEORGE W BUSH AND DICK CHENEY RESIGN. You can't really have breaking news in a newspaper or a blog.

Which is all just splitting hairs still anyways.

Hope his kid wasn't in the Helicopter.

Almack64 @ Sep 17th 2007 10:14AM

You must be young to complain that a story is old and its about somone's death. It's cool though just don't do it again its pretty disrespectful (If you're not young you need to grow up)

...In any case just wanted to wish my prayers to the family.

samfish (SDF- GL Ring) @ Sep 16th 2007 4:29AM

That's really awful. I wish his family the best.

Manic Inc @ Sep 16th 2007 4:39AM

Jesus, it's always a bit shocking when someone famous just dies like this. Comes out of no where.

Purple Haze @ Sep 16th 2007 4:58AM

R.I.P

embassy @ Sep 16th 2007 5:10AM

wasnt he JUST at the X games?

damn.

RIP

so many celebs seem to die in small aircrafts.

Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Sep 16th 2007 5:52AM

*mouth slack-jawed in disbelief at what he just read*

tk00 @ Sep 16th 2007 6:09AM

Sad. Reminds me of Corey Lidle dieing in the plane crash last year. If you want to pilot an aircraft, make it your career not a hobby.

RIP

gok @ Sep 16th 2007 6:18AM

Goodnight sweet prince.

24 @ Sep 16th 2007 6:19AM

damn :(

R.I.P

Beano @ Sep 16th 2007 6:37AM

Horrible news. And what a horrible way to die. :(

Aj2good4you2 @ Sep 16th 2007 6:39AM

oh come mr slavio, that was just plain dirty,oh wait

Korova @ Sep 16th 2007 7:05AM

Very sad

He was a great racer, inspired great racing games.

My condolences to his family and friends, and to his fans, which includes me.

RIP

Babel @ Sep 16th 2007 2:22PM

What an absolute legend. Colin, you were great to watch and your games were great to play. RIP :(

ZenGaijin @ Sep 16th 2007 8:35AM

Kinda ironic that the guy that took risks on the course didn't die because of it.

R.I.P man, so many people dying this year.

Corey @ Sep 16th 2007 9:26PM

Reminds me of the Crocodile Hunter, spending all that time with crocs and a stupid stingray brings him down.

RIP Colin

alex3305 @ Sep 16th 2007 8:40AM

Damn, this is very sad news.. But he is already the second rally driver who got his own good game and is dead now. First their was Richard Burns who got his own game and now Colin McRae.. Damn, I was/am a real fan of the series - although I stink at driving -.

Anyway best of luck to the family and friends and of course Rest in Peace dude! I hope you win even more rally's on the other side ;)

root @ Sep 16th 2007 8:40AM

damn

LaughingTarget @ Sep 16th 2007 8:43AM

While I'm not a huge fan of racing games that don't involve Mario or F-Zero racers (not a fanboy thing, I just have a hard time with racing simulations, I'm just better at playing the fake ones), I am a huge fan of anyone that brings legitimacy to the world of video games. McRae was one of the oldest names that did that. You'll be missed.

DustoMan @ Sep 16th 2007 8:50AM

I can't believe this. I've been watching him race for years, and very saddened to hear this news. This guy was a bad ass driver with more talent then the best in American racing. RIP

smjames23 @ Sep 16th 2007 9:08AM

RIP I feel bad for the wife losing a husband and son. My condolences to her.

Jack Thompson will blame this on Warhawk.

James @ Sep 16th 2007 9:21AM

from wikipedia:

"Police confirmed the next day that McRae, his five year old son Johnny, and two family friends, Graeme Duncan and Johnny's six year old friend Ben Porcelli, died in the crash"

:'(

Slaziman @ Sep 16th 2007 9:40AM

Jesus, that's horrible

dsub @ Sep 16th 2007 9:24AM

Yea, I just read the story on BBC. He was with his 5 year old son and one of his son's friends who was 6. They too died in the crash.

That's just horrible.

2slick @ Sep 16th 2007 9:40AM

I never paid much attention to rally racing, but always watched the X games. When McRae flipped his rally car last year, landed it and almost beat pastrana, that was the sickest moment in x games. and i gained a MONSTER amount of respect for the sport and him.

Shocking stuff, sux. aircraft sux

Colin T @ Sep 16th 2007 9:53AM

Just heard the sad news over in the states! A great loss to both families & motorsport, an ambasador for Scotland & the UK. condolences to all!

TWiNKiE @ Sep 16th 2007 10:05AM

God Bless his Soul.

Moe @ Sep 16th 2007 10:11AM

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44119000/jpg/_44119460_mcraesonsolpress300.jpg

NukeAssault @ Sep 16th 2007 10:16AM

Wow, that just horrible. He was one of my favorite drivers... I wish his family and friends well.

rdj75 @ Sep 16th 2007 10:42AM

My prayers go out to all the family and friends affected by this sudden tragedy.

And to the first poster, I can't believe the first words you typed was about how old this news is when it just happened, granted other sites had it posted lastnight but whats the fucking difference, show some damn respect. I could understand if joystiq posted this next sunday or next month but just chill with the timing thing.

Oreo @ Sep 16th 2007 10:51AM

I never heard of this guy, so what does he have to do with gaming?

eclipse27 @ Sep 16th 2007 12:47PM

If you never heard of him, then how about you use the same Internet that allows useless people like you to make useless and ignorant posts and Google the man for some information before attempting to make a thought 1st...
P.S. He also just released a top-selling video game called Colin McRae:DiRT so there is the video game link for you there, hero

Specter @ Sep 16th 2007 10:52AM

R.I.P. Colin McRae

You will be missed.

I think his name should still be used on racing games. He's the best, and it'd be a nice tribute.

Mr Khan @ Sep 16th 2007 4:01PM

I don't know about that, it would be a fitting tribute, but only if the games stay good

Probably wouldn't sit well with the survivors (who have my condolences, for what those're worth) if Codemasters started lending his name to shoddy products

Brad Mecoli @ Sep 16th 2007 11:02AM

"Police sources said the blue helicopter used by the 39-year-old multi-millionaire had exploded in a "fireball"."

(from another article)

"He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games."

so, I guess we went from flamboyant to flammable just like that, huh?