A Norwegian man on a cross-country rollerblading journey across the United States has died after allegedly being struck by an SUV in Kansas. Joachim Lanham, 24, was on the 22nd day of his trip from New York to Los Angeles when an off-duty first responder discovered him injured in a roadside ditch near Salina on September 5.
Lanham was transported to Salina Regional Health Center and later transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he remained in intensive care. He died from his injuries on September 11, six days after the incident.
According to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the vehicle, an 82-year-old woman, came forward to authorities while they were investigating the scene. She stated that she was driving her SUV west on Country Club Road and believed she had struck something. She reportedly turned around to check but did not see anything and continued home.
Upon arriving home, the driver noticed damage to her vehicle and contacted a friend. She then returned to the scene with her friend. Lt. Scott Trembley of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office told the Wichita Eagle that the woman acknowledged hitting something but was unsure what it was.
The case has been referred to the Saline County Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed against the driver.
Just 40 minutes before the crash, Lanham had spoken with his parents, expressing the significance of his long-distance rollerblading mission. Earlier that day, he had posted a video on Instagram showing him rollerblading on Kansas roads, describing the intense heatwave and his determination to succeed despite weather challenges.
Prior to his journey across the US, Lanham had completed a rollerblading trip of over 3,665 miles across Australia.
His family shared that his brother was with him during his final days. They expressed gratitude for the support Lanham received from followers for his adventures, stating, "They meant the world to him."