America's Got Talent: Extreme Performer Crushed, Burned When Stunt Goes 'Terribly Wrong'

GEORGIA — A TV reality show escape artist is recovering after he was crushed by a pair of cars, burned and injured by a 40-foot drop Tuesday at Atlanta Motorspeedway, authorities said.

Jonathan Goodwin was practicing a stunt for the NBC show “America’s Got Talent: Extreme” at the Hampton race track Tuesday when the incident happened.

“During the stunt, as the two cars were let go, something went terribly wrong, causing Goodwin to be essentially crushed between the two,” Henry County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Sytonnia Moore told Patch. “From there, the pyro used in the stunt went off, causing minor burns to Goodwin.”

The performer then fell about 40 feet from where he was suspended high above the ground, breaking both legs, including one compound fracture, authorities said.

Goodwin was attempting to dodge the pair of colliding vehicles from his dangling perch, according to reports from NBC News. As he fell, he missed the airbag intended to catch him, the news network reported.

He was helicoptered to Grady Memorial Hospital and was talking to paramedics, Moore said.

“He's alive and well,” she said. “He's in a lot of pain, but his injuries are not life-threatening.”

NBC News reports that production for the show has been paused in light of the accident.

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