Race director: Sa dove into mud pit

MT MORRIS, Mich. (WOOD) - Race director Ryan Mortimer says Hope College student James Sa was injured as he attempted to complete the mud pit obstacle during Sunday's Warrior Dash in Mt. Morris.

Mortimer says the mud pit is about 3 feet deep in the front and 80 feet long. He says Sa dove in head first.

"Participants are instructed to enter the mud pit normally, and not jump or dive and Mr. Sa had unfortunately dove into the mud pit which was the cause of the injury," Mortimer said.

He says Warrior Dash works with the American Red Cross and 12 medics were out on the course at the time of Sa's injury.

"In the situation with James there was actually an ambulance within 100 feet of where the incident occurred, so medics were on hand within seconds of the injury."

Sa was transported to Hurley Medical Center in Flint.

In a campus email sent to students and staff Monday, Hope College Dean Richard Frost says Sa is currently paralyzed from the chest down .

Mortimer says a few runners suffered ankle injuries, and cuts and bruises are common but in Sa's case he says.

"This is the first time we've had an injury of this severity," Mortimer said.

Mortimer says all participants sign and turn in a waiver outlining the risks associated with Warrior Dash before they run. The 5k course had 12 obstacles including the mud pit, jumping over fire, and climbing cargo wire.

33 Warrior Dash runs will be held in the United Sates this year and runs are scheduled for Australia and Canada. It costs between $45 and $75 dollars to run in the event. The Michigan Warrior Dash drew 24 thousand 821 participants.

24 Hour News 8 contacted officials at the state Licensing and Regulatory Affairs office. The Bureau of Commercial Services oversees contact events such as boxing. They say the Warrior Dash is not subject to state regulation.

The Warrior Dash does throw a music festival after the race that serves alcohol, and the race director says they secured all permits to do so.