Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross racing star who won a gold medal at
the 2008 X Games, died of head injuries two days after crashing while trying to
land a backflip in competition. He was 24.
He had surgery in Calderon Hospital in San Jose to relieve swelling on his
brain, but his condition worsened and he died last night, Metal Mulisha, his
riding group, said today.
Lusk was injured Saturday night when he failed to complete a full rotation
while attempting a Hart Attack backflip and slammed headfirst into the dirt.
Lusk crashed in almost identical fashion in the freestyle semifinals at the 2007
X Games but was not hurt.
He had a successful 2008 season, winning Freestyle gold at the X Games and
silver in Best Trick when he landed the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip.
He won a bronze helmet in Freestyle at the Moto X World Championships in his
hometown of San Diego.
Lusk died with his parents and his wife, Lauren, at his
side.
