UCSD vaulter Leon Roach dies from rope vault injury

[rainbowgirl28]

I don't have many of the details yet, but I have heard that UCSD sophomore Leon Roach was killed in an accident at practice last night.

http://www.ucsdtritons.com/ViewArticle. ... ID=3662868

Leon Roach
Pole Vault - PV
Freshman
Previous Affiliations
Marina HS
Previous Experience

Huntington Beach, CA

Courtesy: UCSD
Release: 02/04/2009
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2008 graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, CA... CIF state pole-vaulting finalist... Second place in 2008 Masters Meet... Recipient of Brian Beall athletic scholarship... Posted a pole vault personal best of 15 feet 4 inches.

PERSONAL: Born March 6, 1990... Parents are Leon and Mary Ann Roach... Has two siblings named Curtis and Christyn... Father was a pole-vaulter for the University of Hawai’i... A Biochemistry major at Revelle College... Hobbies include listening to music, spending time with friends and ultimate Frisbee... Anticipates a career in science, anything from engineering to medicine.

He also made the CCAA All-Academic team last year.






http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-u ... 4074.story

UCSD student critically injured in pole vault accident
FOX 5 San Diego Staff
1:24 PM PDT, September 4, 2009


SAN DIEGO - A student was critically injured Thursday evening during a track and field workout Thursday, officials at the University of California's San Diego campus confirmed.

Paramedics were called to the Triton Track and Field Stadium on the UCSD campus at about 7:15 p.m., San Diego Fire and Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque told Fox 5. They transported a male pole vaulter with a head injury to Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, Luque said.

"A tragic accident involving one of our talented scholar athletes occurred on campus during a track and field workout yesterday," said UCSD Chancellor Marye Ann Fox and Athletics Director Earl Edwards in a written statement on Friday. "Worlds cannot begin to express our sorrow. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this remarkable student and valued member of the UC San Diego community."

University officials did not release the name of the student or his condition.

[rainbowgirl28]

Article updated to add:

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-u ... 4074.story

A source close to the track and field team told Fox 5 that the student was injured when he missed the pit on a jump and landed on his head.

[rainbowgirl28]

I can't get the video to work, but a local station did a story about it tonight. Erin Asay said they interviewed her.

http://www.10news.com/video/20736624/index.html

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.dyestatcal.com/

Sad news: Vaulter Leon Roach (Marina ' 08) died Thursday from head injury while doing rope drills

I had also heard that maybe he was rope vaulting (as opposed to pole vaulting).

[fx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzozwQQpuR4

[rainbowgirl28]

I am not sure if he has actually passed away or not (I spoke with several sources yesterday who believed he had, but no one super close to the accident)... I spoke with a reporter down there who had contacted the medical examiner's office and they said they hadn't seen him, so it's possible he is on life support or something.

Either way, we should certainly keep his family and the vaulting family at UCSD in our prayers.

[TrackCEO]

Reporters at the San Diego Union-Tribune also say medical examiner has no info on this.

Does anyone know someone at UCSD who was a witness to the accident?

ken

[rainbowgirl28]

Does anyone know someone at UCSD who was a witness to the accident?

The family has requested no information be released about his condition, and the kids on the team have been instructed not to talk to reporters.

There are often lawsuits with this type of thing and it can be hard to find out any details.

[rainbowgirl28]

Here is a video of Leon vaulting last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYaG0I-AyAU

[dafox]

Official update:

I talked to Kevin Magula (Leon's old HS coach) and he told me that Leon has not passed away, but is effectively brain dead and is on a respirator. They're finalizing tests to be certain, but it sounds like its just a matter of time before they pull the plug. He said his chances are 0% of recovery (I'd put them higher since they're still doing tests, but for all intents and purposes...zero).

As for the accident, apparently they were rope vaulting. They had the HJ pit set up over the LJ pit and had a rope (I think?) from a tree and a ~8' bunjee. He basically missed the pit and hit his head on surrounding concrete.

I'll post if I hear of any (official) updates.

[TrackCEO]

Coach Magula wouldn't comment when called by a U-T reporter.

[rainbowgirl28]

Thanks for the update Nate. Very informative.