A 24-year-old Norwegian man who was rollerblading across the United States died after being discovered critically injured along a roadway northeast of Salina, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office said.
Discovery and medical response
Deputies said an off-duty first responder driving in the area noticed items scattered in the roadway on Country Club Road near Morris Drive and stopped to investigate. The first responder found Joachim Lanham unresponsive in a ditch and began first aid, then called 911, the sheriff’s office reported.
Lanham was transported by emergency medical services to a Salina hospital and later transferred to a Wichita hospital. He remained in a medically induced coma for six days before dying from his injuries Sept. 11 with family present, according to the sheriff’s office statement.
Driver contacted investigators; referral to county attorney
While deputies worked to establish what happened, an 82-year-old woman drove to the scene and told investigators she had been operating an SUV and believed she may have struck something earlier but did not see anything at the time and continued home, the sheriff’s office said.
The agency has forwarded the case to the Saline County Attorney’s Office to determine whether any criminal charges are warranted, the sheriff’s office added. Investigators have not publicly announced additional findings, and officials did not release further identifying details beyond the victim’s name.
About the cross-country trip
According to a post on Lanham’s Facebook account, he had been rollerblading across the United States, beginning his journey in New York City and headed to Los Angeles. Local officials confirmed he was on the roadway northeast of Salina at the time he was found.
Lanham had an extensive rollerblading history, having skated across Europe and completing a lengthy cross-country trek in Australia. The sheriff’s office did not provide details connecting his prior travels to the circumstances of the Saline County incident.
Local impact and investigation
The incident underscores safety concerns for people traveling by nonmotorized means along rural and suburban roads, including visibility, lighting and interaction with motor vehicles. Authorities continue to investigate the crash scene and any witness accounts they can gather.
- Location: Country Club Road near Morris Drive, northeast of Salina
- Victim: Joachim Lanham, 24, Norwegian national
- Outcome: Found unresponsive, died Sept. 11 after days in a Wichita hospital
- Investigation: Referred to Saline County Attorney’s Office
| Key dates | Action |
|---|---|
| Sept. 11 | Lanham died at a Wichita hospital after six days in a medically induced coma |
| Prior weeks | Lanham was rollerblading cross-country; began trip in New York City |
Officials have not said whether drugs, alcohol or mechanical factors played a role, nor have they released the results of any toxicology or vehicle examinations. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office is leading the local inquiry and coordinating with other agencies as needed.
Anyone with information about the incident or who may have been traveling in the area Sept. 4–11 is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities did not provide a public tip line in the sheriff’s release.
This case is a reminder of the hazards people face when recreating or traveling along roadways not primarily designed for pedestrians, cyclists or skaters. Local law enforcement said the matter remains under active review as the county attorney decides on next steps.
WE NEWS will update this story as new information becomes available from Saline County authorities and the county attorney’s office.
