16-YEAR-OLD DOWNHILL PRO BADLY INJURED IN HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT (UPDATED)

Cash Shaleeen. (Photos courtesy of Ben Wilson)

We received  news today that 16-year-old Southern California downhill racer Cash Shaleen was badly injured in a hit-and-run accident this past weekend. Cash had to be life-flighted to a hospital for emergency surgery. He was suffering from fractured vertebrae in his back, a broken femur, and spinal cord injuries.

Cash was already racing in the pro downhill ranks in Southern California at 16, and he was consistently making the podiums, beating the times of most of the pro racers and even winning some of the events.

Cash won $750 for taking first place in the SW Downhill race on June 9th this year. (Photo by Ben Wilson)

We interviewed Cash a few weeks ago for our magazine’s “Inside the Pros’ Bikes” feature in our January issue, which will be appearing on newsstands in early December. Subscribers will most likely see the issue before the end of November.

Cash had been looking like he was on his way to being one of the top downhill racers in the world. We’ll have to see how well he recovers from his injuries to find out if that’s changed. (Photo courtesy of Ben Wilson)

MBA called Cash’s cellphone number to see if Cash could talk with us, but he didn’t answer. We sent him a text message also, but we have had no response to that either at this point.

MBA’s editor, Ron Koch, first learned about the accident on Saturday. Ron saw the news mentioned on Facebook in a report from a Glamis-riding group to which Ron belongs. Ron says that Cash was reportedly standing next to a UTV at Glamis (possibly working on it), when someone driving another UTV hit him, pinning Cash between the two UTVs. The driver who hit Cash fled the scene. Some of the witnesses chased him, but the hit-and-run driver reportedly got away before anyone could have him arrested.

Cash’s family shared the news about the creation of a Go Fund Me site to raise money for him. Here’s what the post said:

“This past weekend in Glamis, 16-year-old Cash Shaleen, a National Champion in Pro Downhill Mountain Biking, was injured in a hit-and-run accident which left him severely injured. He was immediately life-flighted to Desert Regional Hospital where he underwent surgery for a broken back (TII-L2), a spinal cord injury, and also a broken femur. He will have a long road ahead of him and they are not sure the extent of his injuries. The Shaleens are the most amazing and kind people you will ever meet. They would do anything for anyone and now is our chance to give back to them. Thank you in advance.”

Cash’s family also shared the shocking news on Instagram.