Spokane man dies at Moyie Mud Bog

BONNERS FERRY — Ryan James Knight, 26, of Spokane, was killed Saturday after his all-terrain vehicle apparently flipped over and landed on him while he rode at the Moyie Mud Bog.

The death is the first in the six-year history of the event, Boundary County Undersheriff Rich Stephens said.

"My thoughts and prayers are with (Knight's) family," Kathy Behrman, one of the event organizers, said. "This is something we hoped would never happen."

Alcohol apparently was a factor in the accident, Stephens said.

According to a sheriff's department report, Knight was riding a Honda ATV up a steep hill at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday when he lost control and the ATV flipped backward, landing on him. He was able to get to family members, who took him to the aid station. An ambulance transported Knight to the Boundary Community Hospital where he died a short time later.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates the machine landed on top of (Knight)," Stephens said, adding that finding anyone who actually saw the accident has been difficult and all information about what happened has been received from either the victim himself or from family members.

Stephens did not know the cause of Knight's death. He is not certain if an autopsy will be performed. The accident is still under investigation, he said.

The mud bog is an unregulated, unsanctioned event featuring four-wheel drive vehicles slogging through mud as well as areas where people can ride ATVs.

It is held on private property and there is a charge for admission, so the state's drinking and driving laws do not apply, Stephens said.

He lauded the property owners for their dedication toward security, though, noting that more than 4,000 people showed up for the event.

The sheer number of people created an issue that will be addressed at any future event, Behrman said.

"There will be definite changes, fewer people," she said. The large crowd caught organizers by surprise, she said.

Behrman commended all the deputies who were at the event. She said she could not comment on the tragedy specifically because she did not see what happened.

"We're not feeling too good about it at all," she said. "It's very upsetting."