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Kansas man dies in crash at Missouri motorsports park

MERWIN, Mo. — A Kansas man is dead after being ejected from a motorcycle at a motorsports park in Merwin, Missouri, just south of Drexel, Missouri, on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol at about 12:09 p.m. Sunday, 50-year-old Jody Warne went airborne on a ramp, overturned and was thrown from his motorcycle at Midwest Extreme Park.

Witnesses said paramedics performed CPR on Warne for nearly 30 minutes before pronouncing him dead at the scene.

Roger Van Meter, Warne’s teammate and bike owner, said once Warne crashed and was thrown over the motorcycle’s handlebars, the dirt bike fell on Warne. Van Meter believes the bike weighed more than 200 pounds.

The park issued a statement in response to the incident.

The Midwest Extreme Park team wants to send our condolences to family and friends of Jody Warne. He was a great competitor, and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Jody was welcoming to all. He would bring the big rig, the big radio, and have the biggest pit party with all the accommodations. He was truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed by the Moto Family.

Ride in paradise,

Bill Graham

Midwest Extreme Park – Merwin, MO

According to the Midwest Extreme Park website, the part was hosting the Missouri State Motocross Championship Series – Round 9 over the weekend.

Now his family and friends are left mourning after losing the Ottawa man.

“He’s someone you’d want to be friends with. He can’t help it. He laughs at everything. He joked. He’d help you if you need it,” said Kari Orender, Warne’s sister.

Van Meter said funeral plans are being finalized, and there’s also the possibility of a benefit race, from which some of the money could go to Warne’s family and race team members.

“He was one of those guys who’d do anything for you,” Van Meter said. “We’ve had numerous gatherings out here — and gone riding. I know he fed half of the track all the time.”

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