8 hours ago
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Looks like those Duke boys got themselves in a whole heap of trouble again… and nearly took out a cameraman doing it.
Hundreds watched in awe as a stunt driver took a replica of the iconic General Lee car from “The Dukes of Hazzard” airborne, soaring 150 feet above the ground over a Kentucky fountain.
Jaw-dropping video of the Somernites Cruise festival in Somerset captured the moment Raymond Kohn hit the ramp in front of the town’s Fountain Square on Saturday evening, mimicking the high-flying adventures of the beloved TV series in a replica 1969 Dodge Charger.
The General Lee could be seen splashing through the bright, turquoise fountain as the crowd roared in a sea of cheers and relief when Kohn successfully landed the car.
The replica bounced a few times after hitting the ground, losing one of its doors and back bumper in the impact, which left Kohn barreling toward a row of roadside barricades.
The bumpy landing also the left the car careening toward a cameraman with the stunt crew, who barely got out of the way.
Debris from the car skidding along the barricades could be seen pelting the lucky cameraman, with spectators audibly sighing in relief.
“Praise the Lord, everybody’s safe,” Somernites Cruise Executive Director Keith Floyd announced after the jump, the Commonwealth Journal reported.
“(Kohn) is doing great. I’m just so high (with excitement) right now,” Floyd added.
Kohn told the local outlet that despite the rough appearance of the landing, it was “easier” on him, with a wave of relief coming down on the stunt driver after his team spent months preparing the replica car for the jump.
“You get one shot at it. This is a very scary situation,” Kohn said. “You’re putting yourself in a life-and-death situation on purpose, and I just need to focus on one thing, hitting that ramp, and that’s it.
The rough landing mirrored the abuse the real-life General Lee took during filming of the popular series, which according to some estimates wrecked as many as 300 of the bright-orange Chargers during the show’s run from 1979 to 1985.
The Somerset jump marks Kohn’s 30th stunt behind the wheel of a replica General Lee, with his personal record seeing him fly 217 feet into the air.
Along with the stunt, festival goers also got to enjoy a meet-and-greet and get autographs from the stars of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” including John Schneider, who played Bo Duke.
English (US)