Salina, Kansas — A 24-year-old Norwegian man rollerblading across the United States from New York to Los Angeles has died after he was allegedly struck by an SUV along a Kansas road and left critically injured in a roadside ditch.
Joachim Lanham was on day 22 of his cross-country journey when the crash occurred on Sept. 5 near Salina, about 175 miles outside Kansas City. An off-duty first responder discovered Lanham seriously injured in the ditch and alerted authorities.
Lanham was initially taken to Salina Regional Health Center before being transferred to the intensive care unit at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
He remained in a medically induced coma for six days before dying from his injuries on Sept. 11.
Driver Came Forward During Investigation
The Saline County Sheriff’s Office said investigators were working at the scene when the driver involved in the crash came forward.
Authorities said the driver was an 82-year-old woman who had been operating a 2013 Ford Edge SUV westbound on Country Club Road. According to statements, the woman said:
“An 82-year-old female said she had been driving a 2013 Ford Edge SUV going west on Country Club Road,” cops told.
She reportedly told investigators that she believed she had hit something before turning around to check the area.
“She stated that she thought she hit something, turned around to check the area, but didn’t see anything, so she continued her journey home.”
Lt. Scott Trembley of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office said the woman later noticed damage to her vehicle after returning home.
Driver Reportedly Returned to the Scene
According to Trembley, the woman contacted a friend after noticing the damage to her SUV. The friend then returned to the crash location with her.
Trembley said:
“She knew she struck something. She just wasn’t sure what,”
The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation. The case has now been turned over to the Saline County Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the driver will face criminal charges.
No charging decision had been announced in the information provided.
Lanham Was Pursuing a Cross-Country Dream
Lanham had been documenting his ambitious rollerblading journey online as he traveled from New York toward Los Angeles.
Just 40 minutes before the crash, Lanham had spoken with his parents by phone and told them how important long-distance rollerblading was to him, according to his family.
Earlier on the day of the crash, he posted a video showing himself rollerblading along Kansas roads. He wrote:
“I’m in Kansas baby, the heatwave has been kicking my ass, I thought I knew what hot, but nothing like this,”
Lanham also acknowledged the difficult weather conditions but remained determined to continue.
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“My weather forecast app keeps telling me to check up on my loved ones and to seek refuge, but I’m on a mission. Mother nature will definitely slow me down but I will succeed.”
Family Was With Him in His Final Days
After the crash, Lanham’s family remained by his side as he fought for his life. His family said on Instagram that his brother Michael stayed with him throughout the week, holding his hand until the end.
The family later shared the final video Lanham recorded before the crash. The brief clip showed a butterfly flapping its wings on his foot, a quiet final moment from a journey that had been filled with long roads and unusual experiences.
He Had Already Crossed Australia on Skates
Lanham’s cross-country American journey was not his first major long-distance skating adventure. Earlier this year, he had traveled more than 3,665 miles across Australia on skates, according to his family.
His loved ones said his followers had played an important role in supporting his adventures.
“We as his family are so thankful for all the support you have given him on his wild adventures,” his family wrote in the post directed to his followers.
“They meant the world to him.”
Lanham’s journey across the United States ended just 22 days after it began, leaving his family and followers mourning a young man whose passion for long-distance rollerblading had taken him across thousands of miles.
The Saline County Attorney’s Office will determine whether the driver involved in the Kansas crash will face charges.
What are your thoughts on Lanham’s journey and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death? Share your reaction in the comments.