Melissa Pye is raising concerns about safety after an ATV accident at the Smoke ‘N’ Spurs event in Mattawa during the long weekend. The incident, which occurred on August 31 during the mud bog racing event, involved an ATV that struck Pye, her 11-year-old son, and three other festival-goers.
Pye described the event as chaotic and overwhelming, especially since her son was also involved. They were standing near a fence when an ATV, coming out of the mud, collided with the barrier and hit five people, causing minor injuries. Emergency responders quickly arrived, and everyone, including Pye and her son, was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Pye’s son had his ankle placed in an Air Cast, and she suffered a bruised leg.
Despite the scare, Pye has no ill feelings toward the ATV driver, who she described as a “sweet woman” and a mother herself. Pye emphasized that the incident was an accident and no one was to blame. She also noted that it was fortunate no one was seriously hurt.
The event organizers issued a statement confirming that all drivers, including the ATV operator involved, passed breathalyzer tests before competing and highlighted new safety protocols introduced after the incident. They assured that safety remains a top priority.
While Pye and her son are recovering, she expressed disappointment that she has not yet received an apology from the organizers. She hopes that by sharing her experience, future events will adopt stronger safety measures.