EDEN — A motocross rider practicing for this weekend’s racing at Powder Mountain died Thursday when he crashed and sustained serious injuries.
Dylan Perkins, 16, had traveled from his hometown of Surprise, Ariz., to Eden for the third annual Monster Energy Powder Mountain Motocross racing event. The ski resort transformed its ski runs into a motocross stadium for a full weekend schedule of events.
Thursday was designated as a warm-up time for riders. The teenager was in his third practice lap on the track when, at 11 a.m., he took a serious spill.
“He was going a little fast, a little long, so when he came down (after gaining some air) he lost control and landed on his head,” said Weber County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryon Hadley.
Perkins suffered head, neck and internal injuries from the crash.
“It didn’t look good at the scene,” said Weber County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Klint Anderson.
Weber County Fire District emergency medical technicians and Powder Mountain ski patrol employees who were stationed throughout the track immediately came to the aid of the youth. He was treated at the scene, but died of his injuries — likely on scene, Hadley said.
A medical helicopter was called out to the resort, but an ambulance transported the patient. Perkins was officially pronounced dead after he arrived at McKay-Dee Hospital, in Ogden, Hadley said.
His family members were at the track when the accident happened and accompanied him to the hospital.
“The entire Powder Mountain staff and motocross community extend our most sincere condolences to the family and friends,” Powder Mountain President Gregg Greer said in a news release.
Perkins was wearing all of the required race protective gear, including his helmet. But motocross is “one of those extreme sports where anything can happen, and does happen,” Hadley said.
It was an unfortunate accident, he said.
All racers must sign a waiver before riding at the event. Because Perkins was younger than 18, his parents would have signed for him.
Two more minor crashes occurred at the practice Thursday afternoon that resulted in leg and ankle injuries, Hadley said.
About 200 other riders were at the track Thursday, according to the resort’s news release.
Comments