UPDATED: August 11, 2018
Racer Wendy Belk had her leg amputated below the the right knee as a result of the racing incident at this years NORRA Mexican 1000!
| Racer Wendy Belk |
UPDATE: June 4, 2018
RALLY BULLETIN >>>
Baja South Racer Fabian Edgardo Fausto Estrada has succumbed to injuries sustained in a fueling incident for Mag 7...
Racer Jake Jason Batulis has reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained in an incident during the Norra Mexican 1000...Numerous serious injuries UPDATED!>>> Numerous Serious NORRA Mexican 1000 Racing Incident Reports!
NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally Incident Reports:
**In central Baja at the silt beds: One racer had both legs broken, when he was out of his race car and was struck by another racer. Current condition unknown.
UPDATED! Joe Weining injured racer; Family member reported on his status:
"As some of you may know Joe was run over by a vehicle while staging at the NORRA 1000 this last Thursday, thanks to the quick help from his Friends he was able to be flown to the U.S. for surgery after being stabilized in Mexico. We can’t thank enough everyone that was involved to make this happen so quickly and the fact that he was wearing his helmet, neck brace and safety gear when the accident happened safe his life. He is now in recovery sustaining a Broken Collard Bone, Broken Talus bone /Calcaneus and above Ankle fracture, luckily when the Surgeon removed pins out ( the ones from Mexico surgery) the bones fell back into place thanks to the ligaments and others. Nonsurgical treatment was decided since the pieces of broken bones were not longer displaced (the surgery in Mexico was huge part on this) Surgeon decided to not do surgery due to allowed less damage and allow broken bones to heal up on its own. Surgeon decided to splint to hold the bones in proper position while they heal. Joe is strong and resilient, making a speedy recovery."
**At Race Mile 24, out of the La Paz re-start, a head-on was reported, which closed the course for over an hour.
**From Drew Belk; his sister, Wendy, to lose her lower right leg after Mexican 1000 race incident.
| Racer Wendy Belk |
*Latest UPDATE: August 11, 2018
Wendy Belk Loses her leg.
Sent prayers, thankfully, from all indications, Wendy is a Champion of the Human Spirit and will overcome this life challenge.
CLICK HERE FOR FUNDRAISER
"As many of you know, Wendy Belk, veteran racer (past Baja 500, Vegas to Reno, and Powder Puff champion), was injured in a freak accident at this year’s NORRA 1000. She was struck by another vehicle while attending to her own car, on the final day near Todos Santos, while leading her class and running 9th overall. After 3 tense days in critical condition in a hospital in La Paz, she was airlifted to San Diego. Once stateside, she spent 45 days at UCSD Hillcrest, enduring 15 surgeries and battling other complications while recovering from the accident. The damage she sustained eventually resulted in the amputation of her right leg below the knee (among other major injuries). It has been an up and down summer, but she is getting better every day, and looking forward to strengthening both legs so that she can undergo knee ligament repair and eventually begin fitting prosthetics. The outpouring of support from the desert racing community and friends in other circles has been overwhelming, and our family is eternally grateful. Wendy is blessed to have such a supportive network encouraging her during her recovery. We are also thankful for medical insurance, which has borne most of the brunt of the immense cost of care. However, insurance does not cover everything, especially when it comes to prosthetics. In a joint effort to express our thanks to our desert family and support Wendy’s out-of-pocket financial burden, we are starting a campaign to raise funds for Wendy." "Please help us support Wendy through the beginning stages of her new life as an amputee, as she transitions into her next great adventure."
UPDATED: 5-1-2018;
"For those just now finding out, and for the countless number of friends checking in, Wendy has asked to me fill everyone in on her behalf (because it’s hard to type on a phone with IV’s stuck in you everywhere). On April 26th, on the last day of the 1300 mile NORRA Mexico 1000 rally, Wendy (navigator) and my dad (driver) were involved in a slow roll over near Todos Santos (just north of Cabo).
When Wendy got out of the car, she was hit by another race vehicle in the dust. A different team’s helicopter landed and flew her to La Paz, where she underwent an emergency surgery to relieve internal bleeding, and a fasciotomy of her lower right leg to relieve pressure caused by compartment syndrome. After 2 days (and still sedated), she was flown via medevac jet to UCSD Hillcrest where she underwent immediate surgery by the trauma team who performed another fasciotomy of the leg.
Unfortunately, it was discovered that her injuries were much worse than originally feared. Broken left tibia, 2 or 3 torn ligaments in left knee, dislocated right knee, crushed artery, 3 or 4 torn ligaments in right knee, cracked liver, and necrosis of her toes and lateral compartment muscles of the right leg from the vascular damage. She has had several surgeries here (San Diego), including complete removal of the lateral compartment muscles of the lower right leg. At this point it is looking more and more like an amputation of the right leg below the knee."
*Regarding incident near Todos Santos on the last day of the rally: "Update on Wendy Belk (sister), since we’re getting lots of messages from people checking in... she had emergency surgery to relieve internal bleeding last night and is stable but still sedated. Not out of the woods entirely but over a major hump.
This communication went out during Belks hospital stay in La Paz ["I was just contacted by Mike Belk they need this for his sister to get home. Need your help. We need to find an IVC filter (retrievable, non permanent) to get down here to La Paz for a surgeon to install so my sister can fly home for an urgent operation. We are having trouble finding one that we can get our hands on in he states."]
There also is another racer in serious condition in the room right across from her, moto (See incident report below) guy. A third incident patient was flown home yesterday."
Wendy Belk was transported to a local hospital by Phylis Evans’ chopper (Walker Evans wife) part of Evans motorsport entry into the NORRA Mexican 1000 event.
**Per Jennifer Morton: The moto competitor "Jason Batulis "was passing a quad and hit a cattle guard". He suffered a broken pelvis, femur, and ribs. 'Jake' was air-transported from La Paz to" a U.S. hospital.
"During the flight back to the states, he suffered a massive heart attack and further medical complications."
| Racer 'Jake' Jason Batulis |
| Jason 'Jake' Batulis and his '96 XR 600R Solo effort at the 2018 NORRA Contingency and Tech Inspections |
Jake Jason Batulis has died
>>>RALLY BULLETIN!!! Jason 'Jake' Batulis, racer in this years event has reportedly succumbed to his injuries, sustained during the NORRA Mexican 1000.
Jakes Memorial Fund
"Friends and family are grieving over the sudden loss of our beloved Jake Batulis. As many may already know Jason "Jake" Batulis was racing in Baja at the Norra 1000 and has passed away due to injuries sustained from a crash. He is survived by his 3 young boys. The purpose of this memorial fund is to help ease the burden of these young men and family as they struggle to find their new path forward. This is also an avenue for all of Jake's many friends and loved ones who want to support Jake, just as he has done for so many of us throughout the beautiful life he lived. Your thoughts and prayers are sincerely felt and have provided great comfort in this time of sadness and confusion.
A memorial service will be planned in the coming weeks and those details will be provided as they become available."
https://www.gofundme.com/jake-batulis-memorial-fund
**NORRA MEXICAN 1000 BURN VICTIMS!
Fabian Edgardo Fausto Estrada has died
"Please donate to help our injured MAG-7 pit support volunteers! On April 25th, Fabian and Alberto were fueling a vehicle at the NORRA Mexican 1000 race. Fumes from the gas were somehow ignited by the vehicle and both men were engulfed in flames. Both men were airlifted to a hospital in La Paz to begin treatment. Alberto suffered second degree burns over 20% of his body that may require skin grafts to heal. He has a family to support and does not have health insurance. Fabian is currently sedated in intensive care with second and third degree burns over 50% of his body that will require multiple skin grafts and surgeries to heal. As soon as Fabian is stable, he will be transported to Mexico City in order to be attended to by burn specialists. Fabian's recovery is expected to take several months, and he and his wife are expecting their first child this summer. MAG-7 is a non-profit club made up of volunteers from the U.S. and Mexico. We have supported Baja races for 51 years without a major incident. Providing pit support for Baja racers is our hobby, and we do not profit from any of the races we attend. This is why we need your help in raising funds for Fabian and Alberto! Please contribute what you can and know that all donations will go to help our injured friends."
https://www.gofundme.com/fabian-and-alberto-recovery-fund
Old Man Walker Evans Can't Drive!
He drives over Jesse Jones co-dog, breaking his ankle and collar bone! GET OFF THE RACE GRID YOU OLD STUPID FART! WHO ARE YOU GONNA KILL NEXT? [Like the ESPN Photographer]
UPDATED! Joe Weining injured racer; Family member reported on his status:
"As some of you may know Joe was run over by a vehicle [driven by old fart Walker Evans] while staging at the NORRA 1000 this last Thursday, thanks to the quick help from his Friends he was able to be flown to the U.S. for surgery after being stabilized in Mexico. We can’t thank enough everyone that was involved to make this happen so quickly and the fact that he was wearing his helmet, neck brace and safety gear when the accident happened safe his life. He is now in recovery sustaining a Broken Collar Bone, Broken Talus bone /Calcaneus and above Ankle fracture, luckily when the Surgeon removed pins out ( the ones from Mexico surgery) the bones fell back into place thanks to the ligaments and others. Nonsurgical treatment was decided since the pieces of broken bones were not longer displaced (the surgery in Mexico was huge part on this) Surgeon decided to not do surgery due to allowed less damage and allow broken bones to heal up on its own. Surgeon decided to splint to hold the bones in proper position while they heal. Joe is strong and resilient, making a speedy recovery."
Original Reporting:
"While waiting to start the last stage from La Paz to Cabo there was an unfortunate accident involving Walker Evens car and a Co-Driver or Driver Named Joe. While Walker pulled forward as directed, Joe was stepping out or a white class 1, " El Chucabra " I think it said... His leg was collected by Walkers passenger rear tire and slammed him down on the ground in front of the tire and rolled over the entire length of his body and completely over the helmet. We where the team directly behind them and I was the first person to assist Joe. Another came and helped keep Joe calm and removed his helmet. We checked his vitals and found his lower leg / ankle we broke. The last update I was able to get was he was transported to Cabo, looking for a flight to LA. They where worried he would have a stroke if they put him on a plane and that's the last we have heard..."
Thanks to his helmet, which was RUN OVER, he is still alive.
Gary Newsome, Publisher
BajaRacingNews.com
