SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, April 2, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A South Jordan man has died in the hospital where he was taken on Friday after falling nearly 75 feet while out for a bike ride.
Matthew Ballard and a good friend were out dirt-biking near Eagle Mountain when the accident occurred.
As the men were going up a hill near Tooele, Ballard’s bike hit a rock. His bike laid down and Ballard was sent flying about 75 feet to a rock quarry below.
He was LifeFlighted to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, where he underwent surgery for his internal injuries.
According to a special Facebook page his wife, Stephanie, started after the accident, Ballard hit the ground more than once as he fell, which caused severe internal injuries in addition to broken bones.
Ballard was wearing a lot of protective gear, his wife said, but, “Unfortunately man sized boulders were enough to allow him to break and shatter bones in several different places and cause lacerations to his lung, kidney, spleen, liver, small and large intestine.”
On Monday evening, Stephanie Ballard updated the Facebook page, saying:
My heart is so heavy. My husband passed away around 5 p.m, peacefully with so many loved ones around him. His injuries were too much. I ask for prayers to help lift me and all my children.
The Ballards have six children.
A sister-in-law has established a Gofundme account to help the family with the medical expenses.
