QUICK FACTS:
- Date: June 2, 2024, 10 AM
- Victim: Brooke Carlton, age 9, from Vista
- Location: 20700 Cereal Street, Lake Elsinore
- Current Status: Reopened August 16, 2025 as Lake Elsinore Raceway
- Investigation: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department case ongoing
Brooke Carlton was riding her electric motorbike on a track designated for young children when another juvenile rider struck her at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. The nine-year-old from Vista died at Inland Valley Medical Center at 11:24 AM that Sunday.
Five months later, park management blamed her family for forcing the track’s closure, citing a lawsuit that court records show never existed.
Table of Contents
California Motocross Park Had Three Prior Deaths Since 2012
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office documented the collision between two juveniles on electric bikes at approximately 10 AM. Bystanders performed CPR before Cal Fire paramedics transported Brooke to the Wildomar hospital.
Previous fatalities at the same facility:
- June 28, 2012: Charles Wayt, 71, Show Low, Arizona
- November 8, 2021: Unnamed male rider died from traumatic injuries
- December 3, 2023: Jared Shepard, Apple Valley Fire Protection District engineer
- June 2, 2024: Brooke Carlton, 9, Vista
Four deaths in twelve years at one recreational facility.
Witnesses Describe Different Version of Fatal Crash
Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park posted on Instagram: “This was such a freak accident as the parent said. This is not a time to bash the track but a time to remember this little girl and support her family.” Management deleted this post.
Multiple people present that day posted accounts on Reddit:
- A 15-year-old rode a 125cc motorcycle on the peewee track
- Track marshals warned the teenager twice to leave
- The teenager returned to the children’s track
- The fatal collision followed
The Sheriff’s Department continues investigating without confirming these accounts.
Park Announces Closure, Blames Nonexistent Lawsuit
On November 2, 2024, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park posted this statement: “Due to a lawsuit from a tragic accident that occurred in June the property owner has terminated our agreement as they are being brought into it as well. It was their decision it would be in their best interest to have the track closed.”
The Carlton family attorney immediately responded: No lawsuit had been filed. The family saw “no correlation between Brooke’s death and the park’s closure” and didn’t want to harm the motocross community.
USA Today checked Riverside County Superior Court records. No lawsuit found.
Roadracing World searched the same database. Nothing.
The most recent civil case naming the track dated to 2017.
Roadracing World contacted Pat Fowler from Lake Elsinore MX Circuit. Fowler claimed he’d been “served papers.” When asked for documentation, he responded: “That’s none of your business” and hung up.
City Spokesperson Confirms Real Reason: Property Sale
A City of Lake Elsinore spokesperson explained to USA Today: The property owner sold the land. The buyer’s condition for purchase required terminating the motocross track’s operating license.
Mayor Steve Manos said the closure surprised city officials. Lake Elsinore promoted itself as the “Dream Extreme” sports destination, and the track was part of that identity. A previous warehouse development proposal for the site was “dead,” the mayor added.
After the false lawsuit claim spread, sources reported the Carlton family faced harassment from angry riders believing the fabricated story.
AMA Safety Standards the Track Allegedly Violated
The American Motorcyclist Association mandates strict age and equipment divisions:
Youth Racing Classifications:
- Ages 4-8: Maximum 50cc engines
- Ages 9-15: Maximum 85cc engines
- 125cc motorcycles: Restricted to older, experienced riders
A 15-year-old on a 125cc motorcycle sharing space with 9-year-olds on electric bikes violates basic youth racing safety protocols.
California premises liability law requires property owners to enforce safety rules. Failure to remove dangerous riders after warnings constitutes potential gross negligence, which can override signed waivers.
Electric motorbikes operate quietly. Riders lose crucial audio awareness of approaching vehicles. The park had no documented protocols for mixing electric and gas-powered bikes on youth tracks.
Brooke Carlton: Young Racer and “Go Fast Girls” Ambassador
Brooke competed in the Swapmoto Race Series wearing pink and white gear with number 25. She represented Go Fast Girls motorsports brand as an ambassador.
“An absolute sweetheart that could brighten anyone’s day with her warm smile and bright blonde halo of curls,” a family friend wrote on GoFundMe. “But she was also a total spitfire that knew what she wanted and there was no way of getting around it.”
The motocross community donated $85,000 from 1,200+ contributors.
Jason and Angie Carlton, Brooke’s parents, released this statement: “Pray for clarity on what we can do in Brooke’s honor to help this kind of tragedy to never happen again on our race tracks. We know that’s not going to be easy but feel like there’s always room for improvement.”
Property Development and Previous Legal Disputes
NorthPoint Development purchased 300 acres in Lake Elsinore for industrial development in April 2022. The motocross park operated on privately owned land through a lease agreement.
The facility closed previously in 2013 during litigation between operator Vision Quest Enterprises and property owner Keeton Holdings. Vision Quest alleged Keeton broke promises to finance $2 million in improvements. Keeton claimed Vision Quest mismanaged funds.
This history of financial disputes and underinvestment affected maintenance, safety equipment, and staff training over multiple ownership periods.
New Operators Reopen Track Without Addressing Enforcement
Jason Baker (Dream Traxx owner) and Bryan Wallace (former Fox Raceway manager) reopened the facility as Lake Elsinore Raceway on August 16, 2025. They redesigned 98 percent of the track layout.
The reopening featured a youth-only event. Public announcements emphasized track design and management credentials.
Not addressed in reopening materials:
- Number of trained marshals monitoring youth areas
- Consequences for violating age/size restrictions
- Authority to immediately eject riders
- On-site medical personnel during events
Track design alone won’t prevent enforcement failures like those alleged in Brooke Carlton’s death.
Insurance and Oversight Challenges for Youth Motocross
The California Department of Parks and Recreation requires safety certificates for youth OHV operation on public lands. Private commercial tracks operate under different standards with less regulatory oversight.
Insurance underwriters examining Lake Elsinore Raceway must consider: four deaths in twelve years, witness allegations of ignored safety violations, and false public statements about litigation.
Track closures across Southern California concentrate more riders at fewer facilities. Overcrowding increases collision risks when different skill levels share limited space.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s investigation remains open. No charges filed. No final report released.
Parents Must Ask Hard Questions Before Trusting Tracks
Motocross brings joy to thousands of young riders. Parents support their children’s passion for racing. Track operators run businesses. Property owners maximize land value.
A nine-year-old girl died where those interests collided.
The Carlton family sought safety improvements to prevent future tragedies. Instead, park management blamed them for a closure actually caused by a property sale. The family endured harassment while grieving.
Lake Elsinore Raceway operates with new ownership and fresh track layouts. Whether management will enforce safety rules that might have saved Brooke Carlton remains unknown.
Parents evaluating this facility should demand specific answers about marshal training, enforcement protocols, and emergency procedures. Written policies mean nothing without consistent enforcement.
Youth motocross accidents at facilities like Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park happen when businesses prioritize convenience over enforcing rules that protect young riders.
