death @ WORCS race @ oceano dunes

[Richard Cheese]

Boy, 17, dies in Dunes incident

Utah resident riding in a race may have gone over a drop-off in the recreation area

By Leslie Parrilla

A 17-year-old boy died Saturday after crashing his vehicle at the Oceano Dunes during a benefit race.

Maxwell Niederhauser of Parowan, Utah, was rushed by ambulance to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident happened about 11 a.m., according to a news release.

“He went over a drop-off on the race course and apparently the bike—he may have hit the other end of the drop-off — and the bike may have rolled over,” said Tony Villareal, supervising ranger at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

Niederhauser was riding a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle.

“Don’t know if it landed on top of him or if he struck the handlebars, but there were chest injuries,” Villareal said.

Nobody else was injured in the incident.

Niederhauser was riding in the fourth annual Oceano Dunes Beach Race and Festival to benefit spinal cord injury research.

His mother was at the event, but no witnesses of the incident could be found, Villareal said.

“All we know is one of the riders who came up behind him motioned to the staff,” said Villareal. “We don’t have any witnesses.”

The race, which looped through the Dunes, was not interrupted by the accident, and it does not appear that other riders knew about the death.

Another race is planned for today.

About 55,000 people were expected at the Oceano Dunes during the weekend, Villareal said.

The last fatal accident at the Dunes happened Aug. 18 when 4-year-old Michael Valdez of Artesia was accidentally struck by a truck.

Leslie Parrilla can be reached at 783-7645.

[Tracie515]

Oh man! I will pray for his family!

[offroadracer]

sad deal there