Motocross legend Marty Smith dies in dune buggy accident in Imperial Valley

(KYMA, KECY)-The world lost motocross legend Marty and his wife Nancy Smith in a dune buggy accident on Monday at the Imperial Sand Dunes.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the Imperial County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) requested the assistance of Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents patrolling the Imperial Sand Dunes area regarding a rollover accident with serious injuries.

According to ICSO, the buggy was still upside down with people trapped inside. 

CBP said the vehicle had four individuals, two of whom were trapped inside.  One of the trapped individuals was extracted from the vehicle and provided emergency medical treatment.  

63-year-old Nancy Smith was airlifted to a medical facility in Palm Springs but passed away.  Marty Smith was declared dead at the scene.

CNN says Smith came into prominence during the 1970s, winning three national titles -- the 1974 and 1975 AMA 125cc and the 1977 AMA 500cc motocross championships. After retiring from racing in 1981, Smith was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000, according to the AMA.

In a Facebook post, the other individuals in the buggy, Lee Ramage and Tammi said they were unhurt in the accident. In the post, he says, "We spent at least an hour trying to save their lives before first responders arrived. Marty took his last breath while I was holding his head, keeping his airway clear. Marty was my best friend and I tried with everything in me to save him while Tammi tried to save Nancy."