US MotoGP Racer Nicky Hayden Dead

Nicky Hayden nicknamed the "Kentucky Kid" was reported dead at the age of 35, today, May 22, 2017.He was riding a bicycle on the Rimini Coast in Italy when he was hit by a vehicle last Wednesday, May 17, 2017. He was taken to Bufalini hospital in Cesena with head and chest trauma, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.After the accident, the Red Bull Honda team released the following statement:

"Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team rider Nicky Hayden was involved in an incident while cycling near Rimini, Italy yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 17^th May)Following the incident, Nicky was treated on site by medical staff and then taken by ambulance to a hospital near Rimini for immediate treatment. Once Nicky’s condition was stabilized, he was transferred to Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena and remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit.Members of Nicky’s team and his fiancé are with him in the hospital.We would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and messages of support and the assistance of emergency and medical services. Once an official statement regarding Nicky’s condition is released by the hospital or Nicky’s family, a further update from the team will be issued."

According to a UK newspaper, Express, he was hit by a Peugeot 207 CC, driven by a 30-year-old from Marignano. It was also said that there was a chance that Hayden was listening to his iPod while riding. It is currently under investigation whether it had been a potential cause of the accident.Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, Hayden began riding at the age of 3 and started racing 2 years later. His professional riding career within the AMA in 1997 at the age of 16 along with his brother. He is the youngest AMA Superbike champion ever after winning the Daytona 200 in 2002. He has won 9 other awards in his professional career.He was recently riding for the Red Bull Honda Team. Other family members have also reported having flown to Italy to be with him as well as soon as they heard news of the crash, to include his mother and brother.Take a look at the following video from Express of the police arriving on the scene of the accident.