T.J. Lavin, a pro BMX dirt bike rider and MTV host, remains in critical condition after crashing Thursday night in Las Vegas. The 33-year-old suffered serious injuries while attempting a ‘nac nac’ jump combination at the Dew Tour Championships and couldn’t get his feet back on the pedals.
Lavin was placed in a medically induced coma at University Medical Center to slow brain swelling. His mother Barbara Lavin provided some positive news on Saturday in a text to her son’s friend Tim ‘Fuzzy’ Hall: Neuro came and spoke to T.J. He moved his hands around and he gave the docs a thumbs up. He’s now back on sedation to rest and minimize brain swelling.”
In addition to head injuries, he has a broken wrist and a shattered eye socket. Earlier reports of a fractured ribcage are not true, according to Lavin’s business partner Chas Aday.
Aday told the LV Review-Journal that he believed that Lavin, who turned pro at age 19, was planning to retire after this competition at the Hard Rock Hotel in Lavin’s hometown: “He kept making comments like, ‘Well, this is my last one.'”
TJ hosts The Challenge: Cutthroat. MTV released a statement: “Our thoughts are with TJ. He is an important part of MTV’s extended family and we’re all praying for him.”
Check out the crash video below – action begins at 17 seconds on the slider: