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Six hospitalized during motocross competition at Gatorback Cycle Park
The bike belonging to a super-cross rider lays off to the side of the track after a bad crash that sent the rider airlifted to the hospital. The crash occurred during the 2015 Thor Winter Olympics, Monday November 23, 2015 at the Gatorback Cycle Park,in Alachua, Florida. That particular heat was halted to tend to the injured rider.
Cyndi Chambers/Ocala Star Banner
By Morgan Watkin
Staff writer
Published: Monday, November 23, 2015 at 9:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, November 23, 2015 at 9:01 p.m.
Six people were transported to a hospital Monday from Gatorback Cycle Park in Alachua, which is hosting a motocross competition this week, authorities said.
An 82-year-old woman was struck by an off-road motorcycle at about 8:09 a.m. Monday at the Gatorback park and was taken to a hospital, Alachua County Sheriff's Office spokesman Art Forgey said. Then, around 8:48 a.m., emergency responders assisted an 11-year-old boy who fell off an off-road motorcycle and also had to be taken to a hospital for care.
Forgey did not have information on how extensive either person's injuries were but did say the 11-year-old boy had back pain.
Forgey said at least four other emergency calls for medical assistance were made at Gatorback Monday as well, although it was not clear whether any of those cases were directly related to the Winter Olympics events held at Gatorback that day.
A helicopter was used to airlift an unconscious child to a hospital early Monday afternoon, he said. A 14-year-old boy with a broken collarbone also was taken to a hospital that afternoon.
Another 14-year-old with rib and hip pain was taken to a hospital at around 3:24 p.m. from Gatorback, Forgey said. Shortly before that, around 2:55 p.m., a 19-year-old who lost consciousness but later regained it also was transported to a hospital for further care.
The Sun did not receive a response from Gatorback representatives to its email requesting an interview by Monday's deadline.