Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

TJ Lavin improving after Dew Tour BMX crash

TJ Lavin

Beverly Poppe

TJ Lavin

Local BMX pro TJ Lavin is improving Saturday morning after crashing Thursday evening during a BMX dirt qualifying run at the Dew Tour Championships at the Hard Rock Hotel. Lavin was brought to the trauma intensive care unit at University Medical Center Thursday with a small brain bleed and broken wrist. Doctors induced a coma to protect his brain. While he hasn't opened his eyes yet and currently is sedated, Lavin's condition has improved considerably, and he has been responding to simple commands, like giving a thumbs up.

"He's not awake yet, but getting there," Lavin's manager, Chas Aday, said via text message.

Lavin's crash occurred on the Tour's first day while he was attempting a trick called a nac-nac in which the rider swings one leg backward to the opposite side of the bike. According to ESPN.com, Lavin landed without getting his feet back on to the pedals after the trick and, as a result, was thrown from the bike, sustaining injuries and losing consciousness.

Lavin was well aware of the dangers of his sport. On October 13, local rider Ty Pinney crashed while practicing at Lavin's Las Vegas home and was put in intensive care with swelling in his brain. On October 14, Lavin tweeted "@HORRORPROJECT Ty update: the swelling in his brain is going down faster than expected He's not out of the woods yet but it is looking better!" Later that day, Lavin suffered his own serious crash.

While he wasn't in the running for the top spot at this year's competition, the Las Vegas native was excited about having one of the biggest events in action sports in his own hometown. Lavin recently told the R-J that having the Dew Tour Championships in Las Vegas was a "real big deal," adding that he wished the six-year-old event had been around when he was in his prime. Lavin — an X Games champion in the late '90s — said the competition was "more of a fun thing for me."

Competition continues at the Dew Tour Championships at the Hard Rock Hotel today and Sunday.

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