Sandy boy killed in motocross race

WEST VALLEY CITY — An 8-year-old Sandy boy died early Saturday at Rocky Mountain Raceways after hitting a wooden wall during a jump.

Logan Emerson was leading the pack during a motocross race when he cleared the landing on a 90-foot tabletop jump and crashed. Emerson was thrown into a wall dividing the track, said Rocky Mountain Raceways general manager Doug Binstock.

The boy was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center, where he died from injuries sustained in the wreck.

"He was a pretty special boy," said Logan's next-door neighbor, Scott Richards. "He was friendly, outgoing. A little man, basically. He did everything."

Logan had completed the jump perfectly several times before Saturday's fatal crash, said his father, Rocky Emerson, who called the crash a freak accident.

"He was a tremendous kid," said the grieving father. "He loved to snuggle. He was just my buddy. I'm going to miss him so much."

Logan was equipped with the proper gear, Binstock said, including a top-of-the-line helmet and chest pad.

The boy's family decided Saturday to donate his organs, his father said.

"Hopefully up at Primary Children's it would help someone else," Rocky Emerson said. "It's hard to do that with your kid."

Binstock said Logan had been riding motorbikes at the raceway for three years and described him as a "skilled and competent rider."

"It's really an unfortunate situation," Binstock said. "Our hearts go out to the family."

Most motocross riders range in age between 8 and 22, but it isn't uncommon for a rider as young as 4 to be on the track, he said.

"The saying goes, you're an old man when you're over 25 in motocross," Binstock said.

Logan had been racing since his fourth birthday and had made friends with racing celebrities. He competed against other kids up to the age of 14 and looked forward to a career as a supercross racer, Rocky Emerson said.

Logan leaves behind a 15-year-old sister, Tosha, his parents and a legacy of kindness and outgoing cheer.

The boy was known to step back and let other riders reach his level, said Rocky Emerson. A few weeks ago after another boy crashed, Logan helped him back on his bike and rode the track with him until he felt safe, his dad said Saturday.

"It's just so rare for a kid to do something like that at 8 years old," Rocky Emerson said, standing in the boy's trophy-filled bedroom. "It's a tremendous loss."

Despite the fatal crash, Rocky Emerson said Saturday that motocross is a safe sport and encouraged other young riders to continue.

"We live life to the extreme," Rocky Emerson said of his busy family. "We play and we don't regret it."

Donations can be made to the Emerson family at www.rmrracing.com.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com; cnorlen@desnews.com