On August 20th, 2006, Ben was preparing for an ATV Motocross race, warming up on a track that was only three days old. On his second lap, he miscalculated a jump, causing the rear shock to bottom out and the swing arm skid plate to catch the landing. The sudden rebound catapulted him over the handlebars, with the ATV flipping and ultimately landing on him in a violent sequence.
Remarkably, Ben remained conscious throughout the ordeal. Approximately 30 minutes later, as he waited for medical assistance, he noticed the alarming absence of sensation in his legs. That night, in the hospital, he received the devastating confirmation: he was paralyzed from the chest down.