San Clemente BMX Rider Impaled When Seat Comes Off During Jump

SAN CLEMENTE, CA - A 26-year-old man was seriously injured in San Clemente when the seat of the BMX bike he was riding came off during a jump and he was impaled by the seat support bar, authorities said today.

The rider was on a bike path near the border with Camp Pendleton, south of the intersection of Calle Extremo and Avenida Fabricante at about 3:20 p.m. Saturday when the accident occurred, Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority said.

The metal tube penetrated three to four inches into the man's abdomen, the captain said.

Firefighter-paramedics moved the victim away from power lines so that a helicopter could lower a flight medic and a rescue basket to the man, who was hoisted aboard the chopper and taken in serious condition to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, according to Concialdi, who said the man suffered internal injuries and bleeding, but was expected to survive.

He was treated with pain medication and intravenous fluids en route to the hospital, Concialdi said.

City News Service; Photos courtesy of the Orange County Fire Authority