A motocross rider is unconscious after crashing his bike at Area 51, located at 3500 Harloff Road in Batavia. The accident "is way up on top of the hill."
The availability of Mercy Flight is being checked.
Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS are responding.
UPDATE (5:05 p.m.): Mercy Flight out of Batavia is in the air.
UPDATE (5:12 p.m.): Mercy Flight has landed.
UPDATE (5:43 p.m.): Mercy Flight is airborne, headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.
I have to believe the
I have to believe the liability insurance coverage this place pays is going to quadruple from what I'm sure was a hefty amount. Prayers to the injured, I hope they pull through.
It's tough to hear about
It's tough to hear about these injuries and to think how quickly a life can be so changed (even if only for a few months) in something like an instant.
Mercy Flight has been to this location at least three times in less than three months; ground ambulances dispatched on about four occasions besides. Roughly half of the articles regarding injuries here cite repeated ambulance call-outs per day, or crews tending to more than one injured per trip.
Is this level/frequency of injury characteristic of this sport or is the ongoing season at this location anomalous? Either way, I certainly hope that this trend reverses.
I believe that it takes a particular type of person to accept this level of risk.
Motocross is a rough sport
Motocross is a rough sport and I'm sure that there are accidents at every event. So more serious then others.
I think that one of the reasons it seems like there have been so many stories is because THE BATAVIAN, to Howards credit, covers a wider range of news stories. While other places seem to select the stories they cover.
I don't think there is any reason to be alarmed. This is a sport that these young men and women want to participate in, know the risks and have probably be doing since before the age of 10.
Lets wish them well and hope that this person gets well soon.