Oliver Ball-Reed, 13, of Hebron, Indiana dies after crash at Steel Wheels BMX in Hobart
A 13-year-old boy from Hebron, Indiana, died from injuries he suffered after a crash on a BMX track in Hobart over the weekend, officials said.
The Lake County, Indiana, Coroner's Office said 13-year-old Oliver Ball-Reed was hurt while riding Saturday evening. He was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in Hobart, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead just before 10 p.m. The coroner's office was called to the hospital shortly before 10:30 p.m.
Competitors in the BMX world said this is a tragic loss, and said anyone who participated in the Indiana State Series for the last few years knew Ball-Reed was a force to be reckoned with on the track. A small memorial for the teen has formed outside of the BMX track on Monday.
The coroner's office said they determined he died of multiple blunt force injuries and ruled his death an accident. They said Hobart police and firefighters, and the Portage Fire Department, all responded to the crash.
Hobart Fire Chief Enrique Lopez said once they got there, bystanders were already performing CPR on Ball-Reed.
"From the reports from the bystanders, it was he went over a berm and fell, crashed. Not sure what really happened after that, but that's kind of the cause of the accident," he said.
Chief Lopez said they've responded to accidents at the location in the past.
"Just your typical, you know, falls, sprained ankles, broken legs, along those lines. I'm paraphrasing here, but never something this severe," he said.
Steel Wheels BMX in Hobart also posted a statement to their social media on Ball-Reed's death, writing that they are mourning his loss after he "sustained critical injuries at the track on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026."
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his parents, Mary and Phil, as well as his younger brother Ellis, with whom he raced alongside for the past eight years. We are all gutted by this horrible tragedy and will be doing everything we can to support Oliver's family as they navigate this sudden and shocking loss," they wrote on their Facebook page.
"We grieve with them, with the family. Our firefighters and paramedics who responded are also grieving as well," Chief Lopez said.
Ball-Reed attended Hebron Middle School.
In a statement, the superintendent said, "Oliver was a vibrant, active, and well-respected 13-year-old who gave so much to our school. He was involved in basketball, esports, and was a member of our student council at Hebron Middle School."
The superintendent said it's been a heavy day for the middle school and across the district.
Officials have not released details about what exactly caused Ball-Reed's injuries and death, nor any other circumstances of this incident.
Steel Wheels BMX describes itself as a volunteer, non-profit organization providing BMX racing and riding opportunities in Northwest Indiana. According to their website, they were founded in 2000 by a group of parents who "wanted a place for our kids to ride their bikes in 'extreme' fashion in a safe environment."
They have two UABMX-approved tracks; the track in Hobart is an indoor track, while an outdoor track, called Imagination Glen Outdoor, is in Portage, Indiana.
