Man hurt after riding through crowds

A Grass Valley man is hospitalized in serious condition after he crashed his off-road motorcycle as he fled police, who later reported they were not giving chase.

Steven Christopher Wallace, 40, was transported by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday with a compound fracture to his left leg after he crashed his 1975 Yamaha XT road bike on Old Auburn Road.

Grass Valley Police Capt. Dave Remillard said he and another officer spotted Wallace, shortly before the accident, illegally driving his motorcycle through a crowd at Gate No. 8 of the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

"We ordered him to shut his bike down and stop," Remillard said. "He fled from police, drove through the crowd and ran a stop sign."

Remillard said police did not chase Wallace on McCourtney Road because of possible danger to bystanders.

"It was so busy up there," he said. "The area was congested with pedestrian traffic."

He said police checked the area and could not find Wallace until a witness located him sprawled out and bleeding in the middle of Old Auburn Road, the motorcycle laying off the road.

Police provided traffic control while CHP officers investigated the accident.

"Alcohol was not a factor in the accident," said CHP Officer Brant Hardin. "It appears (Wallace) thought he was running from police, but that's a guess."

Hardin said the motorcycle was not equipped with headlights, which would have made it difficult for Wallace to see where he was going.

Hospital spokeswoman Robin Montgomery said Thursday afternoon Wallace was still listed in serious condition at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

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To contact staff writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236.