Accidents

A routine pre-race run during the Baja 500 turned into a nightmare—and now the driver behind the wheel may be facing some serious consequences.

A Mexican district judge has issued an arrest warrant for Rolf Helland, the American driver of the Norsemen Racing Trophy Truck, after a fatal accident in Ejido Eréndira, part of San Vicente. According to the investigation, Helland was pre-running the course on June 2 when his truck allegedly collided with a compact vehicle, killing Felipe Aréchiga Ríos, 38, a local resident.

The crash happened on Calle 16 de Septiembre. Witnesses say the victim’s family rushed him to the nearest health center—but due to the severity of his injuries, Felipe couldn’t be stabilized in time for transfer to a larger hospital. He died shortly after arriving.

Helland, on the other hand, was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in the U.S., where he remains. The arrest warrant issued by the Baja California Attorney General’s Office has yet to be carried out due to his absence from Mexican territory.

But the story doesn’t end there.

In a move that surprised some and calmed others, SCORE International—the famed off-road racing organization behind the Baja 500—has stepped in as a mediator between the Norsemen Racing team and the victim’s family. According to SCORE director José Alfredo Grijalva Carranza, both parties have reached a preliminary damage settlement in the wake of the crash.

Yes, you read that right: there’s a tentative agreement. SCORE, the family’s legal reps, and Norsemen Racing’s team, specifically with Helland’s legal counsel, have been ironing out the details in the hopes of avoiding further escalation—including the potential for protests and blockades in Eréndira.

“We’ve been serving as the go-between,” said Helios Palafox, legal advisor for the Aréchiga family. “There are actually two intermediaries working to make sure this ends with dignity and justice.”

The agreement includes financial compensation to the victim’s family, facilitated by the racing team’s insurance provider. SCORE announced that the terms of the agreement are expected to be fulfilled by Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Still, the legal case against Helland remains open. Despite the financial agreement, the criminal investigation continues, and authorities in Baja California have not ruled out future legal action once the driver returns to Mexican jurisdiction.

This isn’t the first time SCORE International finds itself juggling the fast and furious with the serious and tragic. The high-octane world of off-road racing in Baja has long been romanticized—dust, adrenaline, and roaring engines through remote pueblos. But the events of June 2 are a grim reminder that these races run through real communities, with real people, and real consequences.

Locals in Eréndira had initially considered protesting the race, potentially blocking access routes in the days following the accident. The swift move toward mediation helped de-escalate tensions, at least for now.

Whether justice will catch up to Helland is another question.

For now, the wheels of the Trophy Truck have stopped—but the wheels of justice are still spinning.

Just days before the engines roar to life for the 2025 SCORE Baja 500, a tragic accident has left one man dead in the quiet coastal town of Ejido Eréndira, part of the San Vicente delegation near Ensenada.

On Monday, June 2 at approximately 3:54 p.m., local authorities responded to a crash along 16 de Septiembre Street. What they found was devastating: two mangled vehicles at the bottom of an arroyo—a gray Toyota Scion with ANAPROMEX plates, and a black and white trophy truck, number 37, from Team Norsemen.

The driver of the Toyota, 38-year-old Felipe Aréchiga Ríos, was reportedly still alive when family members rushed him in a private vehicle toward medical care. But hours later, he was confirmed dead at the San Vicente Health Center, with reports noting a deep head injury and severe trauma to the left arm.

As for the drivers of the trophy truck, both were airlifted from the scene by helicopter. The destination? Unknown. The names? Unconfirmed by authorities, though online posts have pointed fingers at drivers Ricky D. Johnson and Rolf Helland of Norsemen Racing. Social media posts from family members claim the pair were speeding during a pre-run on an unsigned route and fled the scene without offering aid. These claims have not been officially confirmed, as Norsemen Racing has yet to release a public statement. While the truck involved in the accident bore the names of the team’s registered drivers, some speculate that, because it was a pre-run, team staff members— and not the official drivers—may have been behind the wheel.

The Ensenada police department’s traffic division concluded that the trophy truck was at fault. The Baja California State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) has taken over the investigation to determine legal responsibility. As of now, SCORE International has not released a statement regarding the incident.

The Baja 500 is scheduled to take place June 4–8, with the main race running on Saturday, June 7. But for many in Eréndira, the mood has shifted from celebration to outrage. The victim’s family is now calling for accountability from SCORE and has even threatened to boycott the race unless action is taken.

This isn’t the first time tragedy has cast a shadow over Baja’s legendary off-road events. During the 2024 Baja 1000, two American spectators were killed and two others injured when a driver from Team Buehler Motors abruptly accelerated during a mechanical inspection, plowing into a group of people. The driver, described by organizers as inexperienced and reckless, was detained, and the vehicle was confiscated. That incident prompted both local and state-level sanctions against SCORE International, as officials criticized the lack of control and accountability during event operations.

Whether these are isolated incidents or signs of systemic oversight, one thing is becoming clear: Baja’s off-road races are facing growing scrutiny—and calls for safer practices are only getting louder.

Whether this was a reckless oversight or a tragic miscalculation, one thing is clear: a life was lost before the green flag even waved. And now, a community is demanding answers.