Motocross rider killed in crash

A SPORTS event turned tragic when a young participant figured in an accident and died.

The victim was identified as Renato Matias "Atong" Domingo Mangosong, an 18-year-old motocross rider. He was a native of Pangasinan and a resident of El Rio Vista Village in Davao City.

Based on initial investigation conducted by PO3 Roman Agor of Talomo police, the victim was a participant in the 1st leg of the Phoenix Mindanao Moto-X Series that kicked off Saturday.

At 8 a.m., the victim was practicing at the race tracks when he stumbled upon passing through the ramps of the race track. The victim suffered a bad fall and was rushed to the Davao Doctor's Hospital but was pronounced dead around noon due to internal hemorrhage.

Moto-X Davao race committee chair Norben Mata, in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao, said Atong took the risk as his Kawasaki KXE 250 was too small to execute a double-double-triple "yet he still tried to go for it."

"He was already reprimanded to stop but he insisted. After he fell, he was even talking and we did not know that his injury was severe," Mata said.

Atong was not wearing any chest protection, which may have contributed to the severity of his injury, said Mata.

"We have been educating our riders with regards to the safety measures in the race track. It is very important that they wear additional protective gear because after all, it is for their own safety," Mata said.

"We are saddened by this unfortunate incident. He was one of our perennial national riders along with his brother Bornok," he added.

Mangosong's remains now lie in state at the St. Peter's Funeral Parlor and will be flown back to their hometown in Pangasinan.