UPDATE: The case was scheduled for trial in October 2018 but was dismissed in April 2018. Washougal Motocross Park was voluntarily dismissed from the lawsuit by the plaintiff in February 2018. National Promoters Group and Lucas Oil Products were also dismissed following a motion for summary judgment. Then, the other defendants (American Motocross Association, John Ayers, MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., and Jarryd McNeil) were dismissed in a stipulated order, according to records filed in Clark County Superior Court.
A former volunteer at Washougal Motocross Park is suing the racetrack and its affiliates after being critically injured when a rider lost control of his bike, left the track and struck him in July 2014.
Bruce Barnes, 52, of Vancouver filed the suit July 5 in Clark County Superior Court against the park; American Motocross Association; Lucas Oil Products; National Promoters Group; John Ayers, director of operations for the National Promoters Group; MX Sports Pro Racing; the rider, Jarryd McNeil; and John and Jane Doe. He is being represented by Vancouver attorney Josephine Townsend.
Barnes was a volunteer at Washougal MX Park, 40205 N.E. Borin Road, on July 26, 2014, when he was struck by McNeil’s bike during the Washougal MX National event. The event, which attracted about 20,000 people, is one of 12 in a national series.
Riders on the track were practicing when McNeil, a professional rider from Australia, lost control of his bike and fell off. The bike went through the safety zone and struck Barnes. There was reportedly a buffer zone and fence around the entire track.
The then-49-year-old was treated by paramedics and taken by ambulance to an evacuation point, where he was transported by a Life Flight helicopter to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. He was later transported to OHSU’s intensive care unit. Barnes suffered five fractured ribs, a broken wrist, broken arm, broken pelvis and broken back, as well as internal bleeding, and he had to have his spleen removed.
Barnes is the son of former Clark County Commissioner Ed Barnes. His brother, Brian Barnes, also works for the track, according to its website.
In his suit, Bruce Barnes alleges that the motocross park and the other named defendants failed to warn him and other people of the dangerous conditions of the track; protect him from known danger; provide reasonable safeguards to prevent his injuries; provide trained personnel to safely design, operate and manage the track; provide protection to Barnes and other guests; properly train and supervise Barnes; furnish him a safe place to work; promote safety practice rules to sign; provide safe equipment; enforce proper federal and state industrial safety standards; and guard, warn and protect Barnes from known hazards.
It also alleges that the track negligently placed him in a position in which he could be harmed, violated safety regulations and the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, had a defective track design, and caused and supervised an unsafe work environment.
The suit states that McNeil is liable for failing to exercise ordinary care while operating his bike, carelessly and negligently driving, failing to keep his bike on the track, failing to keep a proper lookout while operating his bike and failing to maintain his bike in good working order.
Barnes is seeking damages in an amount to be proved at trial.
The track manager, Ryan Huffman, declined to comment on the suit but said he knew it was coming.
Efforts to reach Barnes’ attorney were unsuccessful Monday.
