‘Jeopardy!’ Host Trebek in Car Crash

TEMPLETON, Calif. (AP) _ ``Jeopardy!″ host Alex Trebek escaped injury when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel of his pickup truck, sideswiped a string of mailboxes and sailed over an embankment into a ditch, authorities said.

Trebek, 63, was driving alone on a rural road Friday and his truck was airborne for about 40 feet, California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Koolman said.

Trebek owns and manages Creston Farms, a horse breeding and training farm about 10 miles southeast of Templeton on the central coast. An employee there said he wasn’t aware of the accident.

``I don’t know how he’s doing because I haven’t heard anything about it,″ farm manager Art Mercado said.

A message left after business hours for ``Jeopardy!″ senior producer Rocky Schmidt was not immediately returned.

The Canadian-born Trebek has been host of the popular quiz show ``Jeopardy!″ since 1984. He also hosts the annual National Geographic Bee.

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On the Net: http://www.jeopardy.com/