Joachim Lanham was on day 22 of a planned New York-to-Los Angeles trip when he was struck by an SUV in Kansas.
SALINA, Kan. — A 24-year-old Norwegian man attempting to rollerblade across the United States died six days after he was struck by an SUV and found unconscious in a roadside ditch near Salina, authorities said.
Joachim Lanham was traveling west on Country Club Road near Morris Drive when the collision occurred Sept. 5, according to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded at about 2:25 p.m. after an off-duty first responder noticed items along the roadway and stopped to investigate. The first responder found Lanham unconscious in a ditch on the north side of the road and called 911. Authorities said investigators believe Lanham had been struck by a vehicle traveling in the same direction.
Emergency crews took Lanham to Salina Regional Health Center before he was transferred to a hospital in Wichita because of the severity of his injuries. He died Sept. 11. His family said he spent six days in a medically induced coma. Lanham had been on the 22nd day of a planned rollerblading journey from New York to Los Angeles when the collision occurred.
Investigators said an 82-year-old woman later returned to the crash scene while deputies and emergency personnel were still there. According to the sheriff’s office, the woman said she had been driving a 2013 Ford Edge west on Country Club Road when she thought she struck something. She told investigators she turned around to check the area but did not see anything and continued home. Authorities said she later returned to the scene after damage to the SUV was noticed.
The woman’s name had not been publicly released in reports about the investigation. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office provided information from the investigation to the Saline County Attorney’s Office for review to determine whether charges should be filed. The sheriff’s office also continued gathering information about the collision.
Lanham had documented his cross-country journey on social media as he traveled west. His family said he spoke with his parents by phone about 40 minutes before the collision and discussed what long-distance rollerblading meant to him. After his death, his family shared updates about his final days and thanked those who had supported his travels.
Lanham had also completed other long-distance skating trips before beginning his attempt to cross the United States. Earlier in 2026, he rollerbladed across Australia, traveling thousands of miles. His U.S. journey continued that pattern of long-distance travel, this time with a route intended to take him from New York to Los Angeles.
Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan later addressed the collision while discussing the dangers faced by people traveling on roads outside vehicles. The section of road where Lanham was struck has a 55 mph speed limit and no shoulder, according to local reporting. Soldan said Lanham was not breaking the law by rollerblading on the roadway. He urged drivers to slow down and give space to pedestrians, cyclists and others along roads.
The investigation remained under review by the sheriff’s office and the Saline County Attorney’s Office. Authorities had not publicly announced a charging decision involving the 82-year-old driver in the latest reports reviewed.
Author note: Last updated September 27, 2026.