Pocatello teen killed in skateboarding accident - East Idaho News
Pocatello

Pocatello teen killed in skateboarding accident

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POCATELLO — A Highland High School student died Monday after sustaining severe head injuries in a skateboarding crash.

Trae Smith, 17, lost control of the longboard he was riding and fell while going down Summit Drive near Satterfield Drive in the northeast side of Pocatello on Sunday evening, according to Brian McClure of the Bannock County Coroner’s Office.

“He was not wearing a helmet or protective gear,” McClure said. “If you’re not wearing protective gear while longboarding at high speeds and crash, you run the chance of receiving life-threatening injuries.”

A Pocatello Fire Department ambulance transported Smith to the Portneuf Medical Center. He later succumbed to his injuries early Monday morning.

Before emergency services arrived, Arlen Wittrock, a resident of Summit Drive said a companion of Smith’s knocked on his door requesting the street address for first responders.

Wittrock provided him the address, called 911 himself and was told by dispatch an ambulance was on the way.

“I quickly threw some shoes on and ran across the street to where a heart doctor lives,” he said. “The other two men were performing CPR on Smith who was unconscious. Unfortunately, the doctor wasn’t home, but within minutes the ambulance arrived.”

Wittrock said he has seen young men longboarding this hill on multiple occasions in the past. And more often than not, they do so without helmets or other protective gear.

According to the teen’s stepfather, Jared Barton, Smith was a kid who had a passion for outdoor sports, was recently baptized in the Christian church and recently discovered a love for assisting handicapped individuals.

“He had been through some issues the last couple of years with teenage rebellion,” Barton said. “But we were just reaching into that and he was feeling happy with life.”

Barton said that Smith and the family, including his grandparents, sat down for a family dinner before he had to go to work for a couple hours as a groundskeeper.

Though it’s unknown what caused Smith to crash, it can sometimes be difficult for a rider to control a longboard at high speeds. Longboards are longer and sometimes wider than a skateboard, and commonly used for downhill racing or transportation.

It is not unlawful for pedestrians to ride longboards, bicycles or other non-motorized vehicles in the street, as long as they do not impede upon traffic and adhere to all regulations, according to Sgt. Trent Whitney of the Pocatello Police Department.

The owner of Deckadence skateboard shop, Darin “D’Beau” Black, said Smith was an experienced skateboarder who had won multiple competitions.

But no matter the skill level of riders, they can’t hop on skateboards and ride steep hills without wearing helmets and not run the risk of a serious accident, according to Black.

“I encourage people to always wear safety equipment whenever they are doing something that is inherently risky,” Black said. “But when longboarders go out, and especially when I sell someone a longboard, I warn them, ‘Don’t go dropping down, bombing hills without a helmet,’ because longboarders are particularly susceptible to head injuries with high speeds.”

The family invites all of Smith’s friends and family to a celebration of life on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Colonial Funeral Home. The funeral is Friday at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. The burial will immediately follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help cover the costs of Smith’s funeral. The account can be accessed at www.gofundme.com/2gcyhkrc.

“He was as well-adjusted as any other 17-year-old kid,” Barton said. “Over the past year he made fantastic strides about thinking about his future. And now we’re here.”

This article was originally published in the Idaho State Journal. It is used here with permission.

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