29-year-old BMX rider and father dies in crash after jump on track, CA officials say

A 29-year-old motocross rider died after crashing during a jump at a California track, officials said.

Deputies responded to the Slayground Motocross Park at about 2:45 p.m. on June 6 after hearing reports of a bike crash in Ramona, according to a news release by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The man, whom the medical examiner’s office identified to McClatchy News as Pat Casey, 29, crashed his bike “while performing a jump on the park ramps,” deputies said.

Casey missed the landing, and the bike fell on top of him, according to NBC San Diego.

The person who called 911 was coached by dispatchers on how to give him CPR, according to CBS 8.

First responders found Casey and tried to save him, but he died at the scene, according to the release.

Paramedics spent 55 minutes trying to resuscitate him, CBS 8 reported.

Casey’s wife, Chase Casey, posted a photo of the two on Instagram, writing “Mau Loa baby.”

When translated from Hawaiian to English, mau loa means “eternal, everlasting, forever, endless,” according to Ulukau’s website.

The father of two, according to his Instagram, decided to start riding BMX professionally at age 16 and was from Yorba Linda, according to an athlete profile on ASA Entertainment.

He started riding at age 2, according to the profile.

“It’s hard to find anyone as talented as Pat was on a bike, with complete down to earth humility off it. From competition to free riding, Pat’s flow and positive energy helped set him apart from the rest,” Nitro Circus, a company that holds events like the Nitro World Games, an action sports competition, said on Instagram.

The Slayground Motocross Park is often used for motocross training and X Games events, according to NBC 7 San Diego.

McClatchy News reached out to X Games on June 7 and was awaiting a response.

Ramona is about 40 miles northeast of San Diego.

This story was originally published June 7, 2023 at 10:35 AM with the headline "29-year-old BMX rider and father dies in crash after jump on track, CA officials say."