Trakkers teammate, Sonja Wieck, competed in the Vineman 70.3 Ironman race last week. In her race report, she talks about how a tree fell onto some athletes during the bike leg of the race, critically injuring on man, and causing a delay in the race. This is such a sad story…what are the odds that a tree would fall onto a biker in the middle of a race?!
An oak tree fell across Westside Road during the cycle portion of the competition, severely injuring Holderness and two other athletes and nearly halting the grueling annual event.
Holderness, 43, suffered a severe back injury and broken arm and two other racers broke collarbones when the oak crashed onto them about 7 miles into their 55-mile bicycle ride, according to race officials. read full story
That is horrible!! I bet it was a perfectly clear day too. Talk about a ‘freak’ accident!!
My friend raced vineman and saw this accident. It was really scary and sad–! we worry about drowning, crashing and re-injuring our IT Band, but I have never thought about a tree limb falling on my back!