
The iconic “General Lee” car from the beloved television show “Dukes Of Hazzard,” which ran from 1979 to 1985, was wrecked in Missouri over the weekend in a crash that sent two people to the hospital.
#OnThisDay 1978, a stuntman launched a Dodge Charger, AKA ‘The General Lee’, 82 feet for the opening credits of #TheDukesofHazzard. This original Charger, now fully restored, appeared in the credits of every episode, to the sound of #WaylonJennings.@John_Schneider #GeneralLee pic.twitter.com/AldEoslmpB
— Stars and Cars (@Superstar_Cars) November 11, 2021
‘General Lee’ Crashes In Missouri
The Western Taney County Fire Protection District took to Facebook to post photos of the crash, which occurred when two unidentified people ran off Highway 165 in Hollister, outside Branson.
“Western Taney County Fire along with Taney County Ambulance District and Hollister PD responded to a single vehicle motor vehicle incident on Historic 165 highway at approximately 1:30pm on Sunday February 26th,” the post read. “Both occupants were evaluated and transported by Taney County Ambulance District.”
“The vehicle involved was an iconic and historic car used on the set of the Television show ‘The Dukes of Hazard,'” it continued. “There were 309 ‘General Lee’s’ built for the TV show and another 26 made for the 2005 remake.”
“After an investigation on scene, it was determined the driver of the vehicle was traveling too fast for the road conditions and lost control of the vehicle he was operating,” Hollister Police Chief Preston Schmidt told The Springfield News Leader.
A spokesperson for the Western Taney County Fire Protection District has since told Fox News that the vehicle involved in the crash was actually a custom built replica of the car from the beloved television series. The car was autographed by cast members and had all the staples of the original, including the number 01 on the doors and the controversial Confederate battle flag painted on the roof.
General Lee ~ The Dukes Of Hazzard
It's probably fair to say this General Lee got damaged from either performing a stunt jump or just from a crash of some kind.#generallee #damaged #thedukesofhazzard pic.twitter.com/jCjIFHNEt8
— Albert Caldwell (@AlbertC97408719) February 28, 2023
Related: ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Stars Fight Back When Cancel Culture Targets The General Lee
Confederate Flag Controversy
The Confederate flag being featured on the General Lee has made the car and “Dukes Of Hazzard” itself a target of cancel culture over the past few years. Back in 2020, “Dukes Of Hazzard” star John Schneider spoke out to defend the show from backlash.
“I have never had an African American come up to me and have any problem with it whatsoever,” Schneider told “Today” at the time, adding that “the whole politically correct generation has gotten way out of hand.”
Schneider went on to describe “Dukes Of Hazzard” as being “a unifying force.”
“Mom, grandma, everyone wanted to watch it together. But who benefits from division?” he questioned. “‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ has been shot down, I believe unfairly. We haven’t missed a generation yet, but we may miss this next one.”
The Dukes of Hazzard stars John Schneider (Bo) and Tom Wopat (Luke) weighed in on the Confederate flag controversy and their General Lee car! The duo feels that political correctness has gone too far, the flag isn’t racist, and the car is innocent! Good job Duke Boys! 😎👍 pic.twitter.com/2kHFxuaDB7
— Shawnasaurus Rex (@ShawnG927) July 14, 2020
Related: Report: ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ On Chopping Block With Amazon Streaming As Racial Tensions Mount
Tom Wopat Speaks Out
While Schneider’s co-star Tom Wopat tried to cater to the left a bit with his statement at the time, he also made sure to defend the “General Lee.”
“The situation in the country has obviously changed in the last 40 years. I feel fortunate to be living in a time when we can address some of the injustices of the past,” he said. “But the car is innocent.”
Tom Wopat as Luke Duke, Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke and John Schneider as Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard. pic.twitter.com/GmV3QjhTsh
— Masquerade (@Masquerade2376) December 1, 2022
Sadly, TV Land announced in 2015 that it would be pulling all reruns of “Dukes Of Hazzard” from the network because of the Confederate flag being featured in it, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The conditions of the two people who crashed the “General Lee” last weekend have not been disclosed to the public. We pray that they were not seriously injured, and that they can get back to driving their iconic “Dukes Of Hazzard” vehicle as soon as possible!