Boy killed at Ephrata Raceway

EPHRATA - A 5-year-old boy is dead after being hit by an out-of-control motorcycle while watching a motocross event in Ephrata Saturday evening.

Kaiden Henley, from East Wenatchee, was sitting on a bicycle near his family in the infield of Ephrata Raceway Park, according to Grant County Undersheriff Dave Ponozzo.

At around 6:30 p.m. John J. Smith, a 29-year-old motocross rider from East Wenatchee, lost control of his motorcycle while racing on the track, Ponozzo said.

Smith reportedly became separated from the motorcycle, which struck the boy.

Kaiden was transported to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata where he was pronounced dead.

Smith was injured in the accident but refused transportation to a hospital, according to Ponozzo.

Ephrata Raceway Park owner Rita Witte declined to comment on the crash, including whether any policy changes or new safety measures will be put in place as a result of the fatality.

"At this time, this is such a tragic event, we have no comment," she said Sunday.

Currently the Ephrata Raceway Park's general racetrack rules list no regulations regarding spectators watching races from the inside track.

The rules do state they are "intended as a guide for conduct of the sport and are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to a participant, spectator or official."