You’ve probably seen the clip by now. It’s hard to miss. A custom-wrapped, blue-splattered supercar spinning out of control on a rain-slicked Miami highway while thousands of people watch in real-time. The Jack Doherty McLaren crash wasn't just another "influencer oopsie." It was a moment that basically became a lightning rod for everything people hate about modern creator culture.
Honestly, the details are worse than the headlines. On October 5, 2024, the 20-year-old streamer was cruising down the Florida Turnpike in his $200,000 McLaren 570S. It was pouring. The kind of South Florida rain where you can barely see the car in front of you. Instead of two hands on the wheel, Doherty had one hand on his phone, glancing down at his Kick livestream chat while the car traveled at highway speeds.
One second he's reading comments. The next, the back end of the 562-horsepower beast loses grip.
The Moment Jack Doherty Crashed the McLaren 570S
Supercars and rain don't mix. When you add a distracted driver to that equation, physics takes over pretty quickly. The car hydroplaned, skidding across multiple lanes before slamming nose-first into a metal guardrail.
The impact was violent.
But what happened after the airbags deployed is what really set the internet on fire. While most people would be checking their pulse or calling 911, Doherty kept the camera rolling. In fact, as bystanders rushed over to smash the window and pull him out of the wreckage, he was heard asking them to hold the camera so he could get the right angle of his "totaled" car.
"My f---ing car!"
That was the immediate reaction. Not "Are you okay?" to his cameraman, Michael, who was sitting in the passenger seat with blood literally streaming down his face.
The footage showed Michael clutching his arm, visibly dazed and bleeding from a head wound that would later require stitches. Yet, in a move that felt peak "content-first," Doherty handed the camera to his injured friend and told him to keep filming. It's a level of detachment that's honestly hard to wrap your head around.
Why the Kick Ban Was Only the Beginning
If you’re wondering why you can’t find his channel anymore, it’s because Kick moved fast. Real fast. Within hours of the Jack Doherty McLaren crash, the platform wiped his account. They cited a violation of safety guidelines, which basically say you can’t engage in dangerous or illegal activities while streaming.
It was a massive blow to his brand. At the time of the crash, over 185,000 people were watching live.
The Legal Fallout in Miami
The Florida Highway Patrol didn't just let it slide either. They eventually cited Doherty for using a wireless communication device while driving. While a traffic citation might feel like a slap on the wrist for a guy who brags about making millions, the civil liability is a whole different beast.
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Legal experts, including firms like Leesfield & Partners, pointed out that because the entire act of negligence was recorded in 4K, any personal injury claim from the passenger would be a "slam dunk." You can't really argue "I was paying attention" when there's a timestamped video of you looking at a phone screen two seconds before the impact.
The "Content at Any Cost" Problem
What makes this specific crash stay in the news cycle—even months later—is the lack of remorse. Shortly after getting checked out at the hospital (where he also filmed Michael getting stitches), Doherty was back on X (formerly Twitter) posting clips of the wreck.
He seemed more interested in the 14 million views the crash video generated than the fact that he nearly killed his best friend.
Other big-name creators didn't hold back.
- Corinna Kopf blasted him for making his bleeding friend film the wreckage.
- Adin Ross reportedly suggested he shouldn't be allowed back on Kick without a massive "fine" or apology.
- Nickmercs called him a "garbage human."
It highlights a weird reality of the 2026 creator economy. When your entire income depends on "clout" and "retention," even a near-death experience becomes a "banger video." For Doherty, the McLaren was just a prop. A $200,000 prop that he'd already used for "I crashed my car" clickbait titles in the past. Only this time, he wasn't joking.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Wreck
There's a common misconception that the car just "malfunctioned." It didn't.
McLaren 570S models are engineering marvels, but they are rear-wheel-drive cars with huge tires designed for grip, not water displacement. When you floor it on a wet road while one-handing the steering wheel, you're asking for a spin. The car did exactly what a supercar does when it loses downforce and traction.
Another thing? People think this was his only car. It wasn't. His "garage" at the time included a Lamborghini Huracan, a Tesla Model X Plaid, and a Cybertruck. To him, the McLaren was replaceable. The reputation hit, however, has been much harder to fix.
Actionable Takeaways from the Doherty Incident
If there’s anything to actually learn from this mess, it’s not just "don't text and drive." It's about understanding the physics of what you're operating.
- Respect the Hydroplane: If you feel the steering go "light" in the rain, take your foot off the gas immediately. Do not slam the brakes. Doherty allegedly accelerated just before the slide, which is the worst thing you can do.
- Passenger Rights: If you are ever a passenger in a car where the driver is livestreaming or texting, you have the right to demand they stop. In many states, you are legally entitled to compensation for medical bills and trauma if their distraction causes an accident.
- The Mirror Effect: Look at how the public reacted. The "fame at all costs" approach might get you a spike in views today, but it destroys long-term brand equity. Most sponsors won't touch a creator who treats their staff like filming equipment during a medical emergency.
The Jack Doherty McLaren crash remains a textbook example of how a single distracted second can end a career—and nearly a life. Whether he’s actually learned his lesson is still up for debate, especially considering he's already been seen in other "wreck" videos since, but the internet rarely forgets a clip that's this incriminating.