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Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, where a young girl died, is closing

Online Niel November 8, 2024

A California motocross park where a 9-year-old girl died in June is closing its doors, the park recently announced.

Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park is located approximately 73 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Calling itself the largest trail in Southern California, the park said on its Facebook page that it has seven trails for riders to choose from.

The park announced closing on Saturday and said the decision was made “because of a lawsuit over a tragic accident that happened in June.” The owner made the decision, the park said.

Although the park cites a lawsuit over a June tragedy as the reason for its closure, no recent lawsuits filed against the park could be found through online records.

City responds to park closure; says it has nothing to do with a lawsuit

When contacted after word of the closing began circulating online, a spokesman for the city of Lake Elsinore confirmed that the property on which the motocross park sits was sold this week.

The person who bought the property had “an escrow condition to close” the deal, calling for the motocross track license to be terminated.

In response to rumors circulating online, the city also confirmed to USA TODAY that no lawsuits have been filed against the city.

“We have not been sued,” a city spokesperson wrote in an email to USA TODAY Tuesday afternoon.

The tragic accident happened in the park in June

The closing of the park comes after the age of 9 Brooke Carlton was killed in the park in early June. She was riding an electric motorcycle on an “off-road vehicle trail” around 10 a.m. that day when “another juvenile also riding an off-road motorcycle” struck her, the Riverside County Sheriff previously said in a press release.

Deputies rushed to the scene and found the girl unconscious while bystanders performed “lifesaving measures” on her. She was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.

The other juvenile involved was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said at the time that an investigation into the crash was ongoing. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for updates Tuesday morning.

The girl’s death was a “freak accident,” Park said

In a post on the park’s now-deleted Instagram page, the park said it was “truly saddened” by the girl’s death.

“This was such a freak accident as the parent said,” the park wrote at the time. “This is not a time to smash the track, but a time to remember this little girl and support her family. We are a community and we will do our part to support the family.”

The park also said it would hold a tribute walk in the girl’s honor.

Reminding me of Brooke Carlton

Carlton was an ambassador for Go Fast Girlsa women’s clothing brand, according to the company. “I just started racing motocross in the Southern California area and I’m also getting ready to race BMX,” she said on the brand’s website. “I love being on the track, competing with other girls and going fast!”

When Carlton died, the brand shared a GoFundMe link created by a family friend to raise money for her family.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Carlton family during this incredibly difficult time,” Go Fast Girls wrote on June 5. “Brooke was a true embodiment of the passion and determination that defines our community, and we are proud to have her as a GoFastGirls ambassador.”

Ally Giles, who started the GoFundMe on behalf of the Carlton family, said the girl was kind and brightened the day of anyone she met. She had a “warm smile” and a “shiny blonde halo of curls,” Giles wrote in the fundraiser’s description. She loved her parents, her dog Gunner and her brother Landon, she added.

She also shared a note from the girl’s family.

“Yesterday the good Lord called our dear Brooke Lily to heaven after a freak accident at a local motocross track,” the family wrote. “Hold your loved ones a little tighter for us as we try to navigate this sudden obstacle in our lives. We love you always and forever Brooke Lily.”

The track faced complaints about noise, control

The brand made a blog post on Tuesday once word got out that the park was closing. In the post, Go Fast Girls said the park, “a beloved destination for motorcyclists in Southern California,” is experiencing the same issues many other motocross tracks are facing.

Some issues cited by the company are residential developmentnoise complaints and safety issues such as Carlton’s death.

Calling Carlton’s death a “tragic accident,” Go Fast Girls said the park was under scrutiny and faced “legal pressures that ultimately made continued operations too risky.”

According to the brand, the park’s closure has started a discussion about how those in the motorsports community can continue to enjoy the tracks they love while being safe and respectful of the communities in which they exist.

Go Fast Girls said that because more homes are being built nearby, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park has received a lot of noise complaints, despite the fact that the park was there long before the homes were built.

“Urban sprawl often clashes with outdoor recreational spaces, especially those that host high-impact activities such as motocross,” the brand said. “For motocross enthusiasts, this closure was especially frustrating because it represents a dwindling number of safe and legal places where riders can hone their skills and build community.”

Apparel brand pushes motocross parks to work with communities

Go Fast Girls also said motocross facilities must meet “rigorous safety standards” and that’s why it’s important for community members to support those standards. Examples of safety protocols implemented at these tracks include safety signage, mandatory equipment, controlled driving conditions, and contingency plans in place.

The company shared thoughts on how the motocross community can learn from Carlton’s passing and make changes. Some suggestions the brand has are motorsport-specific zoning, advanced soundproofing technology, restricted operating hours, or agreements between community members and the park surrounding track activities.

The brand said it was vital to advocate for the tracks, but also to respect nearby residents.

“The closing of Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park is a loss, but it also underscores the importance of working together as a community to ensure the longevity of motorsports facilities,” the brand wrote. “If we want to protect these spaces for the next generation, we must advocate for safety, community engagement and accountability.”

This story has been updated to include a statement from the city of Lake Elsinore refuting the park’s announcement that the closure was due to a lawsuit.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on the USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email them at [email protected].