<sod > In 2006 Hammond nearly died after crashing a jet powered car at 298 mph He was driving a jet-powered Vampire dragster when the front-right tyre burst in 2006 It led to the vehicle to spin out of control during a stunt at Elvington airfield near York Hammond suffered serious head injuries and he was in hospital for five weeks before returning home to his wife Mindy and their two daughters, Isabella and Willow.< eod>< sod > ' In 2006 Hammond nearly died after crashing a jet powered car at 288 mph He was driving a jet-powered Vampire dragster when the front-right tyre burst in 2006 It led to the vehicle to spin out of control during a stunt at Elvington airfield near York In 2008 Hammond nearly died after crashing a jet powered car at 288 mph and slipped into a coma during an attempt to break the British land speed record for the BBC show.< eod>