Paulina Rodeo bull rider thrown, fatally injured

A bull rider from Prineville was fatally injured Saturday afternoon when he was thrown from a bull at the Paulina Amateur Rodeo, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said.

Richard Wayne Perry, 58, was thrown from the bull and stepped on shortly before 3:30 p.m., said sheriff’s Sgt. James Savage.

Rager Emergency Services and sheriff’s deputies were on scene and attempted life-saving measures for more than 45 minutes, Savage said, but Perry succumbed to his injuries.

A Life Flight helicopter out of Bend had been activated.

“This was a tragic accident that was witnessed by family and friends,” Savage said in a news release. “The rodeo event was shut down for over an hour.”

The Paulina Amateur Rodeo has been part of Crook County history for over 60 years the sergeant said.

An under-construction Website for the event calls it “the smallest rodeo with the biggest heart.”

On NewsChannel 21’s Facebook page, Perry’s daughter, Bailey Perry, thanked all for their prayers and condolences.

“It has been a very hard day for a lot of people,” she wrote, “but we will get through it as a family. It’s still a shock to me. But he died doing what he loved, and not many people get to do that.”