By Patrick Tepoorten

An afternoon motorcycle joyride went bad the afternoon of April 5 as two riders missed a corner on Isanti County Road 9 and plunged into the ditch.

According to Isanti County Sheriff Chief Deputy Russ Monson, Travis Johnson, 22, of Lindstrom, and Christopher Stadler, 19, of North Branch, were likely going too fast on their sportbikes, commonly known as ìcrotch rockets,î when they missed a corner near Isanti County Road 18.

Johnson escaped serious injury and his motorcycle had barely a scratch. Stadler, on the other hand, was thrown from his bike, which subsequently crashed into the woods and burst into flames.

The Stacy Fire Department responded to the fire. Isanti and Chisago County Sheriffís Offices responded to the scene as well.

It was originally thought that Stadler was dead on the scene, said Monson, but he was soon determined to be alive, albeit badly injured.

He was transported by helicopter to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. According to Stadlerís mother Lana, Stadler remained in the Intensive Care Unit as of Monday morning. Listed in serious condition, Stadler had his spleen removed and suffered broken bones in his leg, arm, and one of his hands, as well as a shoulder injury and internal bleeding in the crash. Lana Stadler hoped her sonís feeding tube would be removed by Tuesday afternoon.

The extent to which Stadler suffered head injuries is unknown at this time, but there is reportedly little evidence of that type of injury on scan.

The Minnesota State Patrol is handling reconstruction of the accident. As yet there is no information as to the speed at which the crash occurred, but Monson believes it will prove to be a factor, along with driver inexperience.

Both riders were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.