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Author: Subject: Baja 500 racer preruns irresponsibly, kills local, flees in helicopter!
JZ
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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 12:42 PM


How fast does it look like they are going?





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David K
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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 12:55 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
In case anyone is questioning the speed of the vehicles, here is a video of the accident.

https://fb.watch/A2_qBWGLPj/

if that link doesn't work, try:

https://www.facebook.com/ZNNEnsenada/videos/4032934550312530...

edit to add:
non-Facebook users: this link to a news page has the video: https://www.zonanorte.mx/main/mozaico/nid/5238

[Edited on 6-6-2025 by Maderita]


Gracias John...

Now, we can clearly see that this was not in town or even on a highway, but where a dirt road, going south, crosses the race course. The victim seems to not stopped before crossing the riverbed/race course. Clearly an accident.

The article also says this about the racer, not mentioned before:

"The State Attorney General's Office (FGE) conducted the corresponding investigations with the support of the organizing company Score International, which acknowledged the driver's liability.
The racer's insurance company has also initiated the process of seeking compensation for the victim's family."

and adds this:

"The accident occurred on Monday, June 2, on 16 de Septiembre Street. The victim's family then took him to the nearest health center. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he could not be stabilized for transfer to another hospital, and died shortly afterward."

"Meanwhile, a helicopter pilot transported Helland to a hospital in the United States, where he has remained ever since. Because he left the country, the arrest warrant has not yet been executed."

This indicates [to me] the racer was badly injured and not helicoptering away to escape justice.

So sad anyone gets hurt or killed during a sport event!




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 12:56 PM


Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
How fast does it look like they are going?


My guess is that the prerunner was doing 60+ mph on the straights. Maybe slowing a little before the intersection. The SUV appears to be going quite slow, maybe 8-12 mph. It is notable that the SUV is approaching the intersection from the right side, if anyone off road considers "right of way" rules.
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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 01:14 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  




Now, we can clearly see that this was not in town or even on a highway, but where a dirt road, going south, crosses the race course. The victim seems to not stopped before crossing the riverbed/race course. Clearly an accident.



Victim blaming? For heaven's sake, why are you defending this jerk? A dirt road is not a "race track" unless a race is officially taking place. And 60 is obviously not a safe speed to be travelling on dirt roads when they are not officially racing. There is a village clearly seen in the background. There could have been villagers, children, dogs, whatever, walking in that area right across from their homes. Why would a local, who probably uses those roads on an everyday basis, be accustomed to stopping before crossing the riverbed, where there are likely never any other vehicles? Why would he expect some yahoo to come tearing out of nowhere?

Entitled American acting like Baja is his personal playground with zero respect or brain.

[Edited on 6-6-2025 by surabi]
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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 01:18 PM


Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
How fast does it look like they are going?


Too fast, given that it was not a race day, they were around houses, and crossing a public road.
Sounds like he was on the gas until just 1 second before impact.




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 01:24 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  

Now, we can clearly see that this was not in town or even on a highway, but where a dirt road, going south, crosses the race course. The victim seems to not stopped before crossing the riverbed/race course. Clearly an accident.


I see many houses in the background. Obviously a populated area. If you look at the google earth image for san Antonio arroyo where it enters the town (crash site), there are lots of houses…
I also see a racer going way too fast for a day when racing is not taking place. Clearly is irresponsible driving by the racer.



[Edited on 6-6-2025 by mtgoat666]




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 01:50 PM


I notice that the video starts with a shot of the helicopter, then turns to focus on the racer. I don't know if the chopper was assigned to record just that truck, but it wasn't called in just to get the racers out of there.

[Edited on 6-6-2025 by AKgringo]




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 03:20 PM


Seems a lot of the facts don't align with what Goat posted initially.

It's always best to not make assumptions.




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 04:01 PM


Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Seems a lot of the facts don't align with what Goat posted initially.

It's always best to not make assumptions.


Seems the facts do align:

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Norseman Racing, Illinois Truck and Equipment, truck 37L

Baja 500 racer prerunning irresponsibly, unsafe speeding, hit and killed local in Erindira, then left the crash scene in a helicopter. helo did not transport the local guy who got worst of it, and died…

Bad, bad stuff…






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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 04:44 PM
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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 05:20 PM


SCORE INTERNATIONAL OFF-ROAD RACING
Ensenada, Baja California, June 6, 2025.

José Abelardo Grijalva Carranza, in my capacity as Director of Score International, through this letter inform that, as a result of the accident that occurred in Ejido Eréndira in this city on Monday, June 2, 2025, in which unfortunately the citizen Felipe Arechiga Ríos passed away, this institution has served as a conciliator between the victim’s family and the racing team known as “Norsemen Racing Team,” particularly Mr. Rolf Helland, and in which both parties have reached a preliminary agreement for damage reparations.

The aforementioned racing team committed to fulfilling the agreement reached no later than Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Nothing further for the moment, we hope for prompt resignation [Note: likely meant “resignation” as a mistranslation of “acceptance” or “peace”] for the family of Felipe Arechiga Ríos. May he rest in peace.

Respectfully,
(Signature)
JOSÉ ABELARDO GRIJALVA CARRANZA
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF
SCORE INTERNATIONAL, S. DE R.L. DE C.V.
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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 09:28 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Not defending anyone.
This is the race course and it was an official pre running day.
The racer did not intentionally hit the civilian nor did he want to. You guys really hate the sport, I understand. But, some responsibility had to go to the civilian who didn't stop to look or listen for a pre runner, before crossing the race track.


Racer was going too fast for public roads. Racer was violating score rules to drive slow/prudent speeds when pre-running. Victim was driving slowly, and had right of way.
Racer was at fault. I see no fault at all by victim.
Did you watch the video? The entire lead up to crash was recorded.
There is no fault of victim.
Seems like score already issued a document saying racer was at fault. Open and shut case.
Racing is really not appropriate on open courses. Time to take the races to a closed track. How many nonracers need to die each year to satisfy the fans?




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 10:07 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Responsibility belongs to all and anyone operating a motor vehicle. So glad that driver was alone and his family wasn't inside with him. The racecourse there is the riverbed, not a "public road". The public road is in the background, along the hillside. I asked hypothetical questions for you, goat. How about giving them an answer.


Stop being an a$$hat, dk.




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[*] posted on 6-6-2025 at 10:21 PM


Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Racing is really not appropriate on open courses. Time to take the races to a closed track. How many nonracers need to die each year to satisfy the fans?


And there it is. The entire point of this troll thread.

If he could, Goat would ban cars because some people die in car crashes.




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[*] posted on 6-7-2025 at 09:58 AM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Not defending anyone.
This is the race course and it was an official pre running day.
The racer did not intentionally hit the civilian nor did he want to. You guys really hate the sport, I understand. But, some responsibility had to go to the civilian who didn't stop to look or listen for a pre runner, before crossing the race track. A helicopter was overhead and locals were watching the pre running action.
Again, nobody wants harm to come to anyone.
Would it be different if this was one of the Mexican run Baja races or if the race car driver was Mexican?
Try to see all the facts without your rose colored glasses on.


Rose-colored glasses? How does that relate in any way to anything I've said?

Looks to me, from the video, like the victim was driving on a regular dirt road used by locals. Why wasn't it marked with some kind of warning at the intersection of the riverbed? Is everyone just supposed to know some racer is going to come tearing through there? And the race driver should have slowed down when approaching that intersection.

Of course it would have been different if the driver had been Mexican. Not to the victim or his family, but had it been a Mexican who caused the accident, he wouldn't have been on a helicopter high-tailing it out of the country to a nice modern hospital in the US, free to go home when released. He would have been transported to a local hospital if he was injured (likely by car if an ambulance wasn't nearby) and after his injuries were treated, he would go straight to jail. That's how it's done in Mexico- if someone is injured in a traffic accident, you get locked up and sit there until an investigation is completed.


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[*] posted on 6-7-2025 at 10:04 AM


Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Racing is really not appropriate on open courses. Time to take the races to a closed track. How many nonracers need to die each year to satisfy the fans?


And there it is. The entire point of this troll thread.

If he could, Goat would ban cars because some people die in car crashes.


What an idiotic thing to say. Advocating for safety protocols has nothing to do with wanting to ban something. That's like saying that urging people to wear seat belts means they want to ban cars.
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[*] posted on 6-7-2025 at 11:09 AM


surabi, I was responding to goat, not you.
Yes, the whole state is very aware of the Baja 500. Especially towns it passes near. The race is HUGELY popular.
As for the racer, yes, it was his fault. My comments earlier were about how it could have been avoided short of ending the racing.




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[*] posted on 6-7-2025 at 11:33 AM


Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Racing is really not appropriate on open courses. Time to take the races to a closed track. How many nonracers need to die each year to satisfy the fans?


And there it is. The entire point of this troll thread.

If he could, Goat would ban cars because some people die in car crashes.


What an idiotic thing to say. Advocating for safety protocols has nothing to do with wanting to ban something. That's like saying that urging people to wear seat belts means they want to ban cars.


He literally said he wants offload racing banned.




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[*] posted on 6-7-2025 at 11:40 AM


Which is not the same as "If he could, Goat would ban cars".
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[*] posted on 6-7-2025 at 02:19 PM


Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Racing is really not appropriate on open courses. Time to take the races to a closed track. How many nonracers need to die each year to satisfy the fans?


And there it is. The entire point of this troll thread.

If he could, Goat would ban cars because some people die in car crashes.


What an idiotic thing to say. Advocating for safety protocols has nothing to do with wanting to ban something. That's like saying that urging people to wear seat belts means they want to ban cars.


He literally said he wants offload racing banned.


Pee wee, i said the racing should be on closed courses. Did not say it should be banned everywhere. Best if they race where they dont kill and maim the public.
I am sure they can find some ranches or ejidos that would let score make loop courses.




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