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Darrell Ward was an American trucker, reality TV personality, and businessman, born August 13, 1964 in Rock Creek, Montana, United States. He is best known for his appearance on the History Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers.” He was killed in a plane crash on August 28, 2016.
Early life
Darrell, whose family has been in the trucking business for generations, learned all about the business when he was young. As you would expect from someone who grew up in Deer Lodge, he took an interest in activities such as camping, fishing and outdoor explorations. He started riding bicycles and learned to use harvesting platforms as a teenager.
There is no information about the names of his parents, siblings, or education.
Always been one of my favorite photos! ❤❤
Posted by Memorial Page for Darrell Ward on Saturday, February 24, 2018
Career
Trucking career
He began his trucking career at an early age, specializing in winter driving. Darrell had at least 30 years of experience when he was first contacted by the producers of “Ice Road Truckers”.
“Ice Road Truckers”
The “Ice Road Truckers” series premiered in 2007, with high ratings. This story’s reality series centers on the adventures of a series of truckers over six-month periods as they drive through treacherous conditions on icy roads in Canada and Alaska to supply communities. remote and often isolated during the winter. Due to its favorable reviews, “Ice Road Truckers” received an Emmy Award nomination, in its Outstanding Cinematography category for Non-Fiction Programming.
Darrell, who joined the cast of the show in its sixth season in 2012, has become a fan favorite not only for his personality, but also for helping his trucking partners and rivals in times of need.
Is ice road trucking dangerous?
Severe winter freezing conditions and very convoluted road conditions are what make ice road trucking a very dangerous job, more so than any normal trucking.
Driving in these wintry conditions, with temperatures that can drop from -50°C to as low as -70°C, means significant hazards for truckers, as mechanical problems and hypothermia are potential hazards.
Normally, ice roads aren’t actually roads, but rivers, ponds, lakes, and other frozen terrain.
In these extreme conditions, the ice can hold 100,000 pounds if the truck is moving, but only 60,000 pounds when stationary. This means that heavy vehicles must always be in motion to avoid the risk of cracking the ice and sinking, but the speed must not exceed 15 mph (25 km/h).
Due to these risky and precarious circumstances, ice road trucking is a job only for experienced and experienced truckers. Typically, trucking agencies do not offer this kind of employment as they are only for special companies that can meet the required level of expertise.
On the road, truckers need to stock up on sufficient food, water and medical supplies, as there are not many stops on these roads, if any, sometimes for several hundred miles/kilometres.
Private life
Family
Although the exact date Darrell Ward married Gwen Menhusen-Ward is unknown, they supposedly got married in the late 1980s and had two children together.
Their eldest son, Reno, followed in his father’s footsteps and also became a trucker. Youngest daughter Terra works at an elementary school in Kansas and is married to Jarrett Brooks with whom she has two children.
Death
Darrell Ward tragically died on August 28, 2016 when the plane he was piloting unsuccessfully attempted to land at Rock Creek Airport in Montana. Ward’s co-pilot, Mark Melotz, 56, also died in the crash. The accident happened while the couple were returning from Texas, where Darrell attended the Great American Truck Show in Dallas.
‘Ice Road Truckers’ star Darrell Ward dies in plane crash https://t.co/SyFxxCSIcS
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) August 29, 2016
Ward had just finished filming ‘Ice Road Truckers’ 10e season, and was on her way to Missoula, Montana to begin filming a brand new documentary on the recovery of “plane wreckage,” produced by History.
Following a statement from a pilot witness, the National Transportation Safety Board investigated the plane crash, reporting the circumstances of the crash: “When the plane was on short final approach at approximately 15 feet above the runway, it suddenly turned 90° to the right, into what the witness estimated to be an angle of bank of approximately 30° to 40° The aircraft continued at low altitude towards the north perimeter of the airport where it slammed into a grove of trees, then through the trees before coming to rest upright on the south shoulder of an interstate highway.
Shortly thereafter, a post-crash fire broke out and consumed the aircraft.
Unfortunately, post-accident investigations did not reveal its cause: “Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomaly that would have prevented normal operation. The reason for the sudden right turn during the short final approach could not be determined during the investigation.
Darrell’s family revealed the unfortunate news on their official Facebook page, saying, “the things Darrell loved the most were his family, including his children and grandchildren and trucking.” Fans and executives from the History Channel offered their condolences.
Altruism
Darrell Ward was known in his community to be a charitable man.
He helped local authorities in Montana fight wildfires, raised funds and donated his people to help flood victims in Louisiana. At the time of his death, he was to appear as the marshal of the truck convoy to raise funds for Special Olympics in Nova Scotia.
A month after Darrell’s death, Truck Convoy announced a special memorial tour to honor Ward, featuring his son Reno. Celebrated on September 24, the Darrell Ward Tribute Tour featured other television stars and friends of Darrell such as Marc Springer, Todd and Tamera Sturgis, Bruce Lacasse, and Darrell’s manager Bob Stanton.
Stanton spoke of the importance of the event to Ward: “Going to Nova Scotia and being the convoy marshal for the 2016 Convoy for Special Olympics Nova Scotia was a big cause for Darrell.
The day before his accident, he and our team had a chat about his excitement about traveling to Eastern Canada for the first time to meet his fans and the athletes. We knew Darrell would want us to follow his commitment to his fans and this event.”
When Stanton proposed his team’s participation in Ward’s tribute, the response he got was unsurprisingly promising: “everyone was on board to make this tribute a success in his memory.”
Net value
Truckers would be paid between $20,000 and $80,000 per ice-road driving season, which can last from six weeks to several months.
Although this is a considerably generous remuneration, it tries to compensate for the dangers that this work encounters.
In addition to Darrell’s ice road trucking salary, he was also paid for his appearances on “Ice Road Truckers”.
Physical appearance
Darrell Ward was a man of white ethnicity, with handsome features, brown eyes and hair. Although his weight and stature are unknown, he was of large build.
Interesting facts
He appeared in “Parts Service” magazine.
A self-proclaimed “adrenaline junkie”, Darrell loved the outdoors and was always up for risky but exciting adventures.
Friends and family said his motto “any road, any load” perfectly describes his personality.
Darrell’s accident report made by the National Transportation Safety Board states that the crashed plane was operated by a commercial pilot with years of experience. However, Ward’s statement of death posted on his Facebook page reads: “He (Darrell) and his co-pilot crashed and lost their lives.” This caused confusion as to whether or not Ward was piloting the plane, as his only known profession was that of a truck driver.
Chuck Campbell, who was close friends with Darrell, told Fox411, “Knowing Darrell Ward was an honor and a privilege that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. We say goodbye to an amazing man who made everyone around him feel special. A part of me died with him.
