Rider dies after crash at Durham motocross event

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/30/rider-dies-after-crash-at-durham-motocross-event

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A rider has died and another was seriously injured in two separate incidents at a quad and motocross event.

Durham police said they had no choice but to shut down the meeting at Hardwick Hall hotel, near Sedgefield, on safety grounds after the incidents.

A spokesman said the first incident happened shortly after 1pm on Sunday when a male rider came off his bike and suffered critical injuries. He was taken by air ambulance to James Cook university hospital in Middlesbrough, where he was confirmed dead shortly after arrival.

The spokesman said a woman was hurt in a separate incident just before 2.10pm. The rider, thought to be in her early 30s, was also taken by air ambulance to the same hospital with what are believed to be serious injuries.

Supt Mick Bird said: “We understand the formal investigation is likely to be led by the local authority but we are carrying out initial inquiries into the circumstances.

“With two very serious incidents within little more than an hour, we felt there was little choice but to bring the event to a close.”

The privately run event involved around 100 participants and 300 spectators.