Ponca City woman fighting for her life after motocross accident

A Ponca City mother of three is currently on life support following a tragic accident during a motocross event earlier this month. Chelsea VanZandt, 33, stalled while racing in Ponca City on Oct. 5 when she was struck by a motorcycle that lost control.

“She was doing something she absolutely loved,” said Nicki Carriere, VanZandt’s mother.

Carriere says it gives her comfort, but she never expected to see her daughter in the hospital.

“It’s hard to sit in there and watch this baby in bed,” she said.

VanZandt, an experienced flagger who loved motocross, was doing exactly what she had trained to do when the incident occurred. Family members say she was in a safety tower when the racer crashed into the stands, hitting her in the head and causing her to fall to the ground.

“A lot of people have told me that she did exactly what she was taught. She did everything right,” Carriere said.

VanZandt’s fiancé and her three children have been by her side since the accident and the family remains hopeful.

“She’s a strong, stubborn child,” Carriere said. “Let me tell you, we pray.”

After the accident, the motocross company said VanZandt was a beloved employee and expressed concern for her recovery. A spokesman called the incident a “freak accident” and said the organization would conduct a thorough investigation to determine what happened and whether safety measures needed to be changed.

The family is asking the community to rally around VanZandt by praying or sending cards to the hospital. These cards can be mailed to Wesley Medical Center, 550 N Hillside, SICU 19, Wichita, KS, 67214.

“At the end of the day, there’s only one real person who is actually going to help this child get through this,” Carriere said. “And He is the one who has guided her through the most difficult part of her life, and that is God.”

The family is raising money for her recovery. CLICK HERE to donate.