Motocross accident disrupts fair-end celebrations

WASHINGTON — The motocross event at the Washington County Fair was meant to be a fun bookend after a week of intense work by fair organizers and participants.

Shortly after 11 p.m., however, an accident happened, injuring an adult woman and two children.

“Two patients on the west side of dirt track/ spectators were struck by something from the track,” an entry in the Washington Police log for July 22 said. “Medical on scene advised there was a third child patient, unknown injuries.”

Jordan Graham, the husband of the woman who was injured and father of one of the children, said it happened while he was gearing up for his own next race.

“We were on the opposite side of the track and I had no idea anything had happened until I saw a bunch of EMTs running that direction,” he said. “I was then called on the intercom to come up to the sign-up shed … It was extremely scary.”

Graham said that a motocross rider had lost control of his bike, causing the injuries.

He added that he was frustrated with that rider, who Graham said had left the scene of the accident.

“He got on his bike, went back to the pits and took off, not with one concern of anything happening or who he hurt,” he said. “I just feel like it’s the wrong thing to do, especially in this sport.”

Graham said his wife and child were recovering from the injuries after their discharge from University of Iowa Hospitals.

“We’re state now where I’ve got everybody home,” he said. “I’m monitoring my wife as she’s recovering from a brain bleed … my son’s home as well, he’s got a cast pretty much all the way up to his pelvis from his left leg, so as of right now I’m just watching for any activity that’s abnormal.”

The status of the second child mentioned in the police report was not immediately available.

The motocross show continued after a medical transport left the scene, according to Fair Board Vice President Kurt Dallmeyer, who said the board had no comments on the incident.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com