Crash in mountain bike race leaves Portland man paralyzed

Evolution in action!

Mike


http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local...J1bPnYmOg.cspx

Crash in mountain bike race leaves Portland man paralyzed

Reported by:Carla Castaño
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Published: 6/15 7:04 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A Portland man has been left paralyzed from the chest down after a crash during a Portland mountain bike race this week.

Mat Barton, 31, crashed his bicycle during a short track single-speed race at Portland International Raceway Monday. Barton is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

"It's just hard to imagine what it's going to be like from here," longtime friend Collin Winn said Friday.

Winn and Barton have been friends since their high school days in California.

"He's involved in all the different styles of racing,” Winn said. “He works for a bike company. It really is his whole life, his passion.

"It was a very freak kind of accident," Winn went on to say. "He went over a hill, and went over his handlebars in such a way that he wasn't able to break his fall. He landed on his head and immediately broke his lower back."

Barton has undergone surgery to stabilize his spine, but doctors believe the paralysis is likely permanent.

"One day you’re riding bikes with him, and they next day you’re getting all these phone calls saying he's not likely to ever ride again," Winn added.

Winn says Barton was always wearing a huge smile and made fast friends.

"He's very kind very gracious with his time," Winn said.

Friends have set up a website where donations can be made to help with treatment and recovery expenses.

"It was only launched about 48 hours ago. $15,000 has already been raised," Winn said.

Friends say it’s a way to help a man known for helping others, after a very unusual crash.

"Nothing like this has happened in competitive racing in Portland since 1980," said Winn. "So it's very, very rare. Freak occurrence."

To learn more about the rehabilitation fund set up for Barton visit www.bartonpdx.com