X Games competitor Caleb Moore dies following crash
The X Games have a shock and awe factor not associated with your everyday football or baseball game. With that, comes some serious risk. We were saddened to hear of the death of Caleb Moore, X Games snowmobiler. Moore was hurt in a crash at the Winter X Games in Colorado last week and was being treated at a Grand Junction hospital until his passing Thursday morning, according to The Associated Press.
The accident occured during the freestyle event when Moore attempted a backflip, with the skis of his snowmobile getting caught on the edge of the landing. He was thrown over the handlebars and landed face-first with the snowmobile on top of him. After some time, Moore was eventually able to walk off to attend a hospital for concussion treatment.
He later developed bleeding around his heart and was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction for surgery. His family said he also had a complication involving his brain.
Moore, 25, was the first death in the X Games’ 18 year existence. He had previously won four Winter X Games medals and the talent ran in the family – he captured a bronze last year while his younger brother Colten took the gold.
To make matters worse, the younger Colten brother also sustained injuries from a crash on the same night – his involving a separated pelvis.
X Games officials have released a statement and expressed their condolences to Moore’s family, committed to reviewing safety measures.
“For 18 years, we have worked closely on safety issues with athletes, course designers and other experts,” the statement read. “Still, when the world’s best compete at the highest level in any sport, risks remain.”
