Following the fatal accident on Monday involving Rolf Helland’s Trophy Truck that resulted in the death of Felipe Aréchiga Ríos, SCORE announced Friday evening that Helland’s team and Aréchiga’s family have reached a preliminary agreement. Norsemen Racing will compensate the family, and has until June 11 to do so.

SCORE, who mediated the negotiations, released the following statement:

As a result of the unfortunate accident that took place on Monday June 2, 2025, in the town of Erendira, involving a vehicle from Norsemen Racing Team and a civilian vehicle driven by Felipe Arechiga Rios, (RIP), who unfortunately lost his life as a result of in-juries he sustained and after an investigation was done by authorities, a preliminary agreement has been reached between both parties through which the mentioned race team must ably to the conditions agreed.

SCORE International offers its sincere condolences to the family of Felipe Arechiga Rios. Our thoughts and prayers to them in these difficult times.

Helland’s #37L truck was pre-running for Saturday’s Baja 500 on Monday, passing through the Eréndira area when he crashed into a Scion driven by Aréchiga. Aréchiga, a 38-year-old Eréndira resident, died of his injuries after being taken to the hospital by his family.

While official statements did not specify who was driving the #37L at the time, photos of the scene afterward indicated Helland and a co-driver were there. They were eventually flown by helicopter, publicly to get their injuries treated in Ensenada though others mentioned they were brought to the United States. The truck was eventually impounded and an arrest warrant for Helland was put out.

Eréndirans planned to blockade the Transpeninsular Highway on Friday followed by parts of the course on race day, frustrated with the lack of response from SCORE and Norsemen Racing prior to the announcement. SCORE director José Abelardo Grijalva stressed such actions were not needed and that the proper authorities responded as they should.

“The accident report was handled transparently,” explained Grijalva in the afternoon before the announcement. “The responsibility is very clear: it was the Trophy Truck that was responsible, and this was determined in the accident report that was submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

“Unfortunately, these kinds of accidents are handled normally. It’s not handled differently because it’s a race car, it’s treated like any fatal accident. There is a responsibility, both parties have the right to demand compensation for the damage and to pay for the loss of life. Unfortunately, a life legally has a price even if no monetary value can compensate for it.”

Helland did not participate in qualifying on Thursday and will not race Saturday.