First fatality at Red Bud

[Stoopidbot1]

ARGOS — Funeral services were held Saturday for 29-year-old Matt Thompson of Argos. He was killed last week in a motocross accident at Red Bud in Buchanan.

This was the first fatality in Red Bud's 35-year history. Thompson's loved ones want others to learn from his death.

Four-year-old Ryley is proud to point out pictures of his dad. Memories are all he has left.

"From the sounds of it, he just went forward a little bit and hit his neck on the bars," explained Kristy Sears, Ryley's mother.

During an open riding session, Thompson suddenly lost control of his bike.

"And then it flung his head back and then he broke his neck," said Sears.

He died the next day.

"It's very hard. I'm still in a deep shock from it. I never thought this day would come," said Sears.

"We got to live through it. We're going to," said Thompson's grandfather Dale Thompson.

Loved ones describe Matt as fun and full of life. The die-hard motocross racer spent a lot of time on the track. But his first love was always his son.

"I remember the day we had him in the hospital. I didn't even get five minutes with him alone because he just wanted to hold him the whole time," said Sears.

Sears hopes Matt's death will encourage other motocross racers to think about safety first and wear neck braces. They're not mandatory and only a couple of companies manufacture them, making them extremely expensive.

"A lot of people don't want to go out and spend four, five, six hundred dollars for one. But they will save your life. That's what they are for," said Sears.

Kristy says moving on will be difficult for her and Ryley. But knowing Matt died doing what he loved gives her some relief.

"It makes it easier. I think that's the way he would have wanted it," said Sears.

Friends of Thompson will take a memorial lap next Saturday at Red Bud Track 'n Trail. The track hopes to become a dealer for neck braces so they'll be readily available for racers.

[mellowyellow]

Damn that sucks. We just got my son an EVS brace. He won't ride without it.

[wheeler0801]

wow..maybe after reading this more companies will make the braces, or atleast make them cheaper so ppl can buy them even on a budget...

[stuman6669]

yea that does suck! my condolences to the family.