Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park says it’s closing after lawsuit

On November 7, 2024By Littum

A California motocross park where a 9-year-old girl died in June is closing its doors due to legal issues, the park announced recently.

Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park is located about 110 km southeast of Los Angeles. The park calls itself the largest track in Southern California and said on its Facebook page that it has seven tracks for riders to choose from.

The park announced closing Saturday and said the decision was made “due to a lawsuit from a tragic accident that occurred in June.” The property owner made the decision, the park said.

Although the park cites a lawsuit over a June tragedy as the reason for its closure, no recent lawsuits filed against the park could be found through online records.

A tragic accident happened in the park in June

The park’s closure comes after 9-year-old Brooke Carlton was killed at the park in early June. She was riding an electric motorcycle on an “all-terrain vehicle track” around 10 p.m. 10 that day when “another youth, also riding an all-terrain motorcycle,” struck her, the Riverside County Sheriff previously shared in a news release.

Deputies rushed to the scene and found the girl unconscious while people in the area performed “life-saving measures” on her. She was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.

The other youth involved was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said at the time that an investigation into the crash was ongoing. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY requests for updates Tuesday morning.

The girl’s death was a ‘freak accident,’ Park said

In a post on the park’s now-deleted Instagram page, the park said it was “truly saddened” by the girl’s death.

“This was such a freak accident as the parent said,” the park wrote at the time. “This is not a time to beat the ball, but a time to remember this little girl and support her family. We are a community and we will do our part to support the family as well.”

The park also said it would organize a tribute ride in honor of the girl.

Remember Brooke Carlton

Carlton was an ambassador for Go Fast Girlsa clothing brand for female racers, according to the company. “I just started riding motocross in Southern California and I’m also preparing to ride BMX,” she is quoted as saying on the brand’s website. “I love being out on the track competing with other girls and driving fast!”

When Carlton died, the brand shared a GoFundMe link that a family friend had set up to raise money for his family.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Carlton family during this incredibly difficult time,” the Go Fast Girls wrote June 5. “Brooke was a true embodiment of the passion and determination that defines our community, and we are proud to have her as an ambassador for GoFastGirls.”

Ally Giles, who started the GoFundMe on behalf of the Carlton family, said the girl was kind and brightened up everyone she encountered. She had a “warm smile” and a “light blonde halo of curls,” Giles wrote in the fundraiser’s description. She loved her parents, her dog Gunner and her brother, Landon, she added.

She also shared a note from the girl’s family.

“Yesterday the good Lord called our dear Brooke Lily to heaven after a freak accident at a local motocross track,” the family wrote. “Hold your loved ones a little tighter for us as we try to navigate through this sudden obstacle in our lives. We love you always and forever Brooke Lily.”

Track has been subject to noise complaints, scrutiny

The brand made a blog post on Tuesday when word got out that the park was closing. In the post, Go Fast Girls shared that the park, “a beloved destination for motocross riders across Southern California,” is facing the same issues that many other motocross tracks face.

Some issues the company cited are housing developmentnoise complaints and safety concerns such as Carlton’s death.

Go Fast Girls called Carlton’s death “a tragic accident” and said the park has been investigated and is facing “legal pressure that ultimately made continued operations too risky.”

According to the brand, the closure of the park has started a discussion about how people in the motorsports community can still enjoy the tracks they love while being safe and respectful of the communities in which they exist.

Go Fast Girls said that because more housing is being built nearby, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park has received a lot of noise complaints, despite the park being there long before the housing was built.

“Urban expansion often clashes with outdoor recreation areas, especially those that host high-impact activities like motocross,” the brand shared. “For motocross enthusiasts, this closure has been particularly frustrating because it represents a dwindling number of safe, legal venues where riders can hone their skills and build community.”

The clothing brand pushes motocross parks to work with local communities

Go Fast Girls also said motocross facilities must adhere to “rigorous safety standards,” which is why it’s important for community members to advocate for those standards. Examples of safety protocols put in place on these tracks include safety signage, mandatory equipment, controlled driving conditions and contingency plans.

The company shared thoughts on how the motocross community can learn from Carlton’s passing and make changes. Some suggestions the brand has are motorsport-specific zoning, advanced soundproofing technology, limited opening hours or agreements between local community members and the park around track operations.

The brand said it’s important to advocate for trails, but also to respect nearby residents.

“The closure of Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park is a loss, but it also underscores the importance of working together as a community to ensure the longevity of motorsports facilities,” the brand wrote. “If we are to protect these spaces for the next generation, we must advocate for safety, community engagement and accountability.”

This story has been updated to clarify that the park announced the closure, citing a lawsuit as the reasonon.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – on 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected].