Similar to any prominent death that occurs during the production of a show for a major studio, the circumstances surrounding the tragic passing of Ryan Fellows from Street Outlaws: Fastest in America have become a subject of widespread discussion, as far as the public can discern.
Street Outlaws: Fastest in America, an offshoot of the popular Discovery reality series Street Outlaws, has continued its existence despite baffling circumstances. The show chronicles groups of drag racers as they engage in street racing competitions across the United States. It can be likened to the relationship between Pawn Stars and Uncut Gems as it pertains to the Fast and the Furious franchise.
In August 2022, the series journeyed to sunny Las Vegas, Nevada for an unsanctioned street race. During the eighth race of a scheduled nine, Ryan Fellows, a prominent figure of the show, was racing a Nissan 240Z when, in the late hours of August 7 or the early hours of the following day, he lost control of the vehicle near the finish line. The car veered off the road and burst into flames, despite attempts by nearby spectators to rescue Fellows from the wreckage. Fellows tragically left behind a wife and two children.
The details implicating Discovery in this incident remain unclear. The network has chosen not to provide further comments beyond expressing condolences to the grieving family. In response, the bereaved family members have taken legal action by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Their claim states that the fatal race took place on an unsafe road surface that didn’t meet industry safety standards, described as a “dusty, weather-beaten, rough asphalt roadway,” as reported by Deadline.
Regardless, this incident was not the first serious accident tied to the filming of the Street Outlaws franchise. Earlier in the same year, TMZ reported a severe accident involving Street Outlaws cast members JJ Da Boss and Tricia, a husband-and-wife team, during filming, resulting in Tricia’s hospitalization.
