Around 3 a.m. on June 20, 2011, Ryan Dunn's Porsche collided with a guardrail in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania. His vehicle careened into the nearby woods, where it ignited in flames. Tragically, Dunn did not survive the crash, leaving behind a legion of grieving fans.

Renowned for his fearless antics on the Jackass set, Dunn stood out as one of the most audacious stuntmen. A bosom buddy of his co-star Bam Margera, Dunn played a pivotal role in popularizing the burgeoning trend of amateur stunts and outrageous pranks. Together, Margera and Dunn kickstarted the notorious daredevil video series CKY in 1999, a precursor to the Jackass phenomenon.

Premiering on MTV in October 2000, Jackass rapidly rose to global fame. Margera and Dunn reveled in the whirlwind of attention and prosperity their antics brought. Yet, amidst the wild stunts, it was the camaraderie among the cast that truly resonated with viewers.

However, everything changed in 2011.

On the fateful night of his passing, Ryan Dunn indulged in drinks at Barnaby's West Chester bar. Subsequently, Dunn and his companion, production assistant Zachary Hartwell, embarked on a journey in Dunn's Porsche. Somewhere along the route, Dunn accelerated to a staggering 130 miles per hour and careened off Route 322. Tragically, this reckless maneuver led to the untimely demise of both Dunn and Hartwell.

"I've never seen a car destroyed in an automobile accident the way this car was even before it caught on fire," said West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll. "The automobile actually came apart. It was unbelievable and I've been on a lot of fatal accident scenes. This is by far the worst I've ever seen."

This is the poignant narrative encapsulating the life and death of Ryan Dunn.

Ryan Dunn's Rise On "Jackass"

Ryan Matthew Dunn entered the world on June 11, 1977, in Medina, Ohio. His family relocated to Williamsville, New York, before settling in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where Ryan commenced high school. Fate intervened on his inaugural day of classes when Ryan crossed paths with Bam Margera, a meeting that would shape both their lives.

The family's move to West Chester aimed to deter Dunn's escalating drug use, yet the new locale evolved into a playground for the adventurous 15-year-old and his spirited companion. While Margera showcased his skateboarding prowess, Dunn eagerly joined the escapades, their exploits captured in recordings of pranks and failed stunts, shared with glee among friends.

Their burgeoning group of misfits gained local renown with the release of videos under the moniker CKY, an abbreviation for "Camp Kill Yourself." Meanwhile, Dunn juggled odd jobs as a welder and at gas stations to make ends meet. However, his life was on the brink of a monumental shift.

The turning point arrived when Johnny Knoxville, a friend of Margera, stumbled upon CKY footage in 2000. Intrigued, Knoxville sought to incorporate some of the content into an upcoming project—ultimately, the Jackass TV show. Premiering on MTV in October 2000, it captivated millions of young viewers.

Yet, this newfound fame would also sow the seeds of Dunn's downfall.

Inside The Tragic Downfall And Death Of Ryan Dunn

Jackass enjoyed a successful run of about two years, culminating in a feature film release in 2002. However, as the crew's fame soared, their stunts appeared to escalate in danger. Dunn, in particular, earned the moniker "Random Hero" for his willingness to tackle stunts that even some of his peers hesitated to attempt.

Notably, Dunn harbored a fervent passion for high-speed automobiles. His infatuation led to daring feats, including an instance where he flipped a car eight times with Margera as a passenger. Despite accruing 23 driving citations, including 10 for speeding, Dunn's status as a Jackass luminary meant he rarely pumped the brakes.

During the filming of Jackass Number Two in 2006, Dunn suffered a severe injury that hospitalized him due to a life-threatening blood clot. Additionally, he grappled with Lyme disease and depression during this period.

Despite a hiatus and withdrawal from his social circle for a few years, Dunn eventually reunited with his friends for Jackass 3D in 2010. His return to the fold seemed to signal a resurgence of happiness and camaraderie.

On June 20, 2011, Ryan Dunn, aged 34, tragically took the wheel after a night of revelry. Reports indicated he may have consumed up to 11 drinks between 10:30 p.m. and 2:21 a.m. Some of the final images captured of Dunn depict him at Barnaby's, appearing jovial amidst a crowd of fans and friends, among them 30-year-old Zachary Hartwell.

Zachary Hartwell, a production assistant for the second Jackass film, was also a recent Iraq War veteran and newlywed. He and Dunn had been out celebrating a recent deal when the unforeseen calamity occurred.

Just after departing from the bar, tragedy struck as Dunn lost control of his vehicle, hurtling off the road at a staggering 130 miles per hour, crashing through a guardrail, and colliding with nearby trees. Within moments, Dunn's car became engulfed in flames.

The force of the impact shattered the vehicle into unrecognizable fragments, most of which were charred from the intense blaze. A lengthy skid mark, stretching 100 feet along the road, bore witness to Dunn's futile attempt to brake or maneuver. Dunn's body suffered extensive burns, necessitating identification through his tattoos and hair.

How Did Ryan Dunn Die?

The day following Ryan Dunn's untimely demise, Bam Margera visited the crash site, grappling with disbelief.

"I've never lost anybody that I cared about. It's my best friend," Margera said. "He was the happiest person ever, the smartest guy. He had so much talent, and he had so many things going for him. This is not right, not right."

Adding a distressing layer to the already somber event, subsequent reports disclosed that Ryan Dunn's blood-alcohol concentration at the time of his death measured .196, more than double the legal limit in Pennsylvania. This revelation stunned those closest to Dunn, particularly as witnesses attested to his seemingly sober demeanor earlier that night.

Not even April Margera, who saw her son grow up with Dunn, wanted to accept it. "I have yelled at him for lots of things but he was not a big drinker and he was always responsible as far as I know, so I cannot believe he would do that," she said. "I am sick because it is a waste, sick because I loved him, sick because he was talented, and sick because he is gone."

Tragically, the cause of death for both Ryan Dunn and Zachary Hartwell was attributed to blunt force trauma and thermal trauma. Whether the two men succumbed instantaneously upon impact or endured agonizing suffering as flames engulfed them remains uncertain, shrouded in heartbreaking ambiguity.