Buyten paralyzed after motocross crash

Matt Buyten, a Minden native and 1998 Douglas High School graduate, was in a devastating motocross accident June 23 in Lakewood, Colorado.

The crash left Buyten with several broken ribs, two fractured vertebrae and a severed spinal cord.

Due to the severity of the spine injury, Buyten’s surgeon said he will be unable to walk again and is paralyzed from his chest down.

Buyten currently remains in the hospital in Lakewood, Colorado and is reaching out to the community for fundraising help for his medical expenses.

Anyone interested in donating to help Buyten can find a link through his Road 2 Recovery page – https://www.road2recovery.com/athlete-causes/matt-buyten/#

So far the page has raised $39,840 with a goal of $150,000.

Megan Persell, who has been friends with Buyten since their childhood, said the accident has been tough on everyone around him.

“It’s just been so tragic that this happened to Matt,” said Persell. “Matt has never asked one person for help. He is a man that will give you the shirt off his back at any moment, at any time. He’s never forgotten who he is and where he comes from.”

On his Road 2 Recovery page, Buyten gave a personal update in early July.

“I am so thankful for everyone that has been on top of getting things handled and set up to make the situation easier on my family. I owe everyone so much. I’m content with being done riding. I have been very fortunate to have a great career,” wrote Buyten. “The biggest thing I’m focusing on is healing and being the best I can be for our two-and-a-half year old son, Jett. I have to be the best dad to him, so that’s my new goal in life: for Jett and being there for my family. I’m not sure we could make this happen without everyone’s generosity. My wife and I have been able to rotate the focus on healing and going into rehab strong. Thank you, everyone!”

At the time of the crash, Buyten was competing in a qualifying event for Loretta Lynn’s National at the South Central Amateur Regional Championship.

The crash occurred near the starting gate.

BUYTEN’S BACKGROUND

Buyten won multiple gold medals at the X Games over his professional career.

In 2003, he won gold in the step up competition before repeating as a gold medalist in the same event in 2010.

He was a silver medalist in the event in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Buyten grew up alongside

In 2003, Carson High School was featured on a national television show while Buyten – who was coming off his first X Games gold medal – demonstrated stunts locally.

Buyten grew up alongside fellow X Games competitors and local natives, Adam Jones and Mike Mason among others.

“A few of them have been able to go visit him in Colorado,” said Persell. “They have been there. They have all shown on their social media accounts the road to recovery page.”

(Matt Buyten assists his son, Jett, over a dirt hill on a bicycle. Buyten is currently hospitalized after a motocross crash in Lakewood, Colorado that resulted in several broken ribs, two fractured vertebrae and a severed spinal cord leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. / Courtesy)