Crash

Jamal Carter's mother died in a pedestrian accident, putting Jamal into Chicago's family services system. Less than a year later, he was chased by 6 gangbangers (why is not revealed) and cornered in a small Italian restaurant, Puccini's, in the Little Tuscany section of Chicago. The gang began administering him a beatdown which triggered his breakthrough. When he started speeding, the gang employed guns to try and stop him. Astra was making her evening patrol nearby when Shelly, in her Dispatch role, told her they had a 911 call of shots fired, with superhuman involvement, and that she was closest.

While Astra was responding, Jamal grabbed a baseball bat from a wall inside Puccini's and began using the gangers for high-speed batting practice. Astra arrived as a burst of gunfire shattered a front window (hitting her twice) which prompted her to fly inside. Immediately after she disarmed the shooter, he encountered Jamal's bat. Recognizng a speedster blur, Astra called Rush for a "Sonic, Code Red!" assist, and disarmed the bad guys. Once the guns were out of play, Astra tried without success to catch the still speeding Jamal; Rush arrived a second or two later and collared him. All involved were turned over to the Chicago Police Department.

Later, back at The Dome, Astra remarks "He was a mad and scared breakthrough, Shell."

That evening, on a visit home, Hope told her Mom about the incident and Mrs Corrigan asked what would happen to the breakthrough (whom the author had not yet named). Hope surmised that he'd end up at Whitlow's Academy (where troubled preteen breakthroughs go). Mrs C, being aware that Whitlow's Academy is not a happy place, gave her daughter a look that elicited a promise from Hope that she'd "see what I can do about it."

Crash next is seen at The Dome when it is attacked in an attempt to assassinate Blackstone in Villains, Inc (Episode 2: Pursuit). He is seen assisting Rush in evacuating the civilians during the attack. A few hours later, the Sentinels are meeting in the Assembly Room and we learn that the breakthrough speedster's name is "Jamal", his hero name is Crash and that he is being mentored by Rush (at Astra's suggestion to Lei Zi so that Jamal can avoid Whitlow's Academy) and is his sidekick.

In Villains, Inc (Episode 3:  Countermoves), we learn of Sifu (Master Li), at whose studio Hope learned self-defense and several life lessons.

Jamal is now under the guardianship of Sifu, who is teaching him how to control himself and his powers, and is a member of the Young Sentinels.