9-year-old girl dies in 'freak accident' after motorcross collision in Lake Elsinore

A 9-year-old girl died in a motorbike collision at a motocross track in Southern California Sunday, authorities said.

Brooke Carlton, 9, was riding an electric motorbike on a "track designated for off-road vehicles" at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park around 10 a.m. Sunday when "another juvenile also riding an off-road motorbike" struck her, the Riverside County Sheriff said. Lake Elsinore is about 70 miles south of Los Angeles.

Deputies arrived at the scene of the accident to find Brooke unconscious as good Samaritans performed “life-saving measures” on her. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased, the sheriff's office said.

The other juvenile, meanwhile, was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident.

The sheriff's office said that an investigation into the accident is ongoing and that no further information will be shared.

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Motorsports park calls tragedy 'freak accident'

The Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, in a post on Instagram, regretted the accident and expressed their sorrow over the loss.

“We are truly sad about the situation. This was such a freak accident as the parent said,” the post said. “This is not a time to bash the track but a time to remember this little girl and support her family. We are a community, and we will do our part in supporting the family as well.”

The motorsports park also announced that they will be organizing a "tribute ride" in Brooke's memory soon.

Brooke was 'an absolute sweetheart'

A GoFundMe page, organized by a friend of Brooke's family, described Brooke as "an absolute sweetheart that could brighten anyone’s day with her warm smile and bright blonde halo of curls. For those that REALLY knew Brooke, she was a total spitfire that knew what she wanted and there was no way of getting around it.”

"Our hearts are completely shattered at the sudden and absolutely tragic loss of Jason and Angie’s very own Brooke Carlton," the GoFundMe page said, with Brooke's parents describing the incident as a "freak accident".

Page organizer Ally Giles, in an update Tuesday, said that all funds raised through the page and otherwise will be used to keep Brooke's memory alive.

"We all miss you sweet baby, but we know you are in His hands now (and probably asking him for some ice cream)," Giles said.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.