Wisconsin Snowmobile Fatality Summary - 2005/2006 Season
Updated through July 13, 2006 - 7 AM |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 1. |
12/10/05 |
Walworth County |
Collision w/ fixed object (trail marker & elevated driveway) |
46 |
.215 |
No |
| |
11:00PM |
Town of Sugar Creek (Road) |
Speed / Lost Control / Alcohol / Internal injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim, while operating at a high speed, struck a trail marker and an elevated driveway. While crossing the driveway he and his snowmobile became airborne and out of control rolling several times. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 2. |
12/13/05 |
Oneida County |
Fell from snowmobile |
20 |
.000 |
No |
| |
Unknown |
Town of Minocqua (Road) |
Speed / Drugs / Internal Injuries |
M |
WI |
No |
| The victim was riding a snowmobile that was stolen sometime in the early morning hours of 12/13/05. The victim was traveling at a high rate of speed and went off the road on a steep embankment and traveled approx. 61 feet before hitting the ice on the river. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 3. |
12/16/05 |
Oneida County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
13 |
NA |
Yes |
| |
11:14PM |
Town of Hazelhurst (Trail) |
Speed / Inexperience / Head Injury |
F |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was looking over her left shoulder and her snowmobile went off the trail to the right and struck a tree at a high rate of speed. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 4. |
12/22/05 |
Walworth County |
Rollover |
22 |
.198 |
Yes |
| |
11:30PM |
Town of Lyons (Trail) |
Speed / Alcohol / Head trauma |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim failed to negotiate a 90 degree turn rolling his snowmobile multiple times and then being thrown off the snowmobile. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 5. |
12/25/05 |
Vilas County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
50 |
.168 |
No |
| |
1:24AM |
Town of Land-O-Lakes (Lake) |
Alcohol / Speed / Head trauma |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim, who had been drinking, was traveling at a high rate of speed across the lake close to the shoreline and struck a tree that had fallen from the shoreline. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 6. & 7. |
12/25/05 |
Vilas County |
Fell through the ice. |
Victim #1 - 51; Victim #2 - 18 |
Victim #1 NA - Victim #2 .000 |
Victim #1 Yes - Victim #2 Yes |
| |
8:00PM |
Town of
Manitowish
Waters (Lake) |
Drowning |
Both victims: M |
Both victims: WI |
Victim #1 Yes - Victim #2 Yes |
| The victims went out on separate snowmobiles on 12/25/05 and were reported missing on 12/26/05 after not returning home. Search begun early on 12/26/05 and indicated that both victims traveled together and hit an open water area in a channel between lakes. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 8. |
1/1/06 |
Oneida County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
28 |
.134 |
Yes |
| |
12:30PM |
Town of Woodruff (Trail) |
Speed / Alcohol / Neck Injury |
M |
IN |
Yes |
| The victim was traveling at a high rate of speed, hit several bumps in the trail went over a small hill and was airborne; he lost control of the snowmobile and hit a large tree. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 9. |
1/24/06 |
Vilas County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
45 |
.000 |
No |
| |
1:26PM |
Town of St. Germain (Road) |
Speed / Inexperience / Multiple trauma |
M |
TX |
Yes |
| The victim was traveling down a town road/snowmobile trail at a high rate of speed when he lost control, went off the road and hit a tree. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 10. |
1/28/06 |
Iron County |
Collision w/ fixed object (dirt mound & tree) |
35 |
.146 |
No |
| |
11:12PM |
Town of
Sherman (Trail) |
Alcohol / Head & Internal Injuries |
M |
IL |
Yes |
| The victim was second in a group of 5 leaving a tavern and lost control of his snowmobile and rolled it onto its side striking a tree on the side of the trail. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 11. |
2/4/06 |
Marinette County |
Collision w/ fixed object |
46 |
.156 |
No |
| |
3:45AM |
Town of
Dunbar (Trail) |
Alcohol / Speed / Internal injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was operating his snowmobile at approximately 75 miles per hour when his snowmobile hit a patch of ice causing him to lose control and strike a tree. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 12. |
2/4/06 |
Oconto County |
Collision with another snowmobile. |
46 |
.273 |
No |
| |
8:28PM |
Town of Doty (Road) |
Speed / Alcohol / Head and neck injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim hit another snowmobile from behind and was ejected from his snowmobile. The victim then slid down the road into the path of an oncoming van. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 13. |
2/4/06 |
Oconto County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
20 |
.156 |
No |
| |
10:29PM |
Town of
Mountain (Trail) |
Speed / Alcohol / Neck and back injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was a passenger on the snowmobile. It appears that the operator of the snowmobile was traveling at a high rate of speed, went down an embankment, through many small trees, launched off of a hump in the terrain and flew approximately 70 feet before the snowmobile came to a rest on its side. The victim appears to have been launched, striking two trees. The operator is in intensive care. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 14. |
2/5/06 |
Chippewa County |
Collision w/ fixed object (light pole) |
16 |
NA |
No |
| |
9:40PM |
Town of Cleveland (Private Property) |
Equipment failure |
M |
WI |
No |
| The victim was working on his snowmobile trying to correct a throttle sticking problem. Physical evidence shows the victim struck a light pole with the edge of his ski and continued 46 ft where he struck the bucket of a skid steer loader. The victim was found about 8 ft from the back end of the skid steer loader, flown to an Eau Claire hospital where he passed six days later. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 15. |
2/6/06 |
Vilas County |
Collision w/ fixed object (building) |
65 |
.237 |
No |
| |
12:01AM |
Town of St.
Germain (Lake) |
Speed / Alcohol / Multiple trauma |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim reached the shore on the lake at a high rate of speed and lost control of his snowmobile. It appears the snowmobile rolled over several times colliding with a tavern approx. 168 feet from the shoreline with the victim striking the tavern 12 feet away from the snowmobile in a different location. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 16. |
2/7/06 |
Vilas County |
Collision with vehicle. |
71 |
.000 |
No |
| |
10:07AM |
Town of Manitowish Waters (Trail) |
Internal injuries / Failure to yeild |
M |
AL |
Yes |
| According to a snowmobile operator following the victim, the victim had stopped at a stop sign on the trail and before crossing the road looked back once and then continued across the road at which time he was struck by a vehicle. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 17. |
2/8/06 |
Barron
County |
Driven into open water |
21 |
Uknown |
Yes |
| |
6:03PM |
Town of
Chetek (Lake) |
Alcohol / Water skipping / Hypothermia, Cardiac failure |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim and a friend were operating their snowmobiles on a frozen lake and began water skipping. Observers in the area spotted the victim in the water trying to swim to safety. The observers then went into the tavern and called 911, when they returned the victim was no longer visible. The victim was later recovered. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 18. |
2/9/06 |
Oconto
County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
40 |
.134 |
Yes |
| |
9:23PM |
Town of
Lakewood
(Road) |
Speed / Alcohol / Head, neck and spinal injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was traveling at a high rate of speed around a curve in the road when his snowmobile slid off the road into a ditch first hitting a stump then striking a few other trees throwing the victim from his snowmobile. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 19. |
2/16/06 |
Burnett
County |
Collision w/ fixed object (tree) |
52 |
Unkown |
No |
| |
2:30PM |
Town of
Swiss (trail) |
Internal injuries /Speed |
M |
IL |
Yes |
| The victim was riding last in line of three snowmobiles when the 2nd snowmobiler turned around to look for him. The victim was found after he had collided with a tree. Victim complained of being short of breath and later died at the scene. Unknown BAC. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 20. |
2/17/06 |
Portage
County |
Collision w/ vehicle |
20 |
.000 |
Yes |
| |
5:57PM |
Town of
Albion (trail) |
Head trauma / Failure to stop at stop sign |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was operating on a closed snowmobile trail when he failed to stop for a road crossing, lost control and was struck by an automobile. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 21. |
2/18/06 |
Bayfield
County |
Rollover |
35 |
Unknown |
No |
| |
12PM |
Town of
Bayfield (road) |
Head, Neck & Internal Injuries / Speed |
M |
MN |
Yes |
Victim hit a 4' high snow bank lauchning his snowmobile end-over-end ejecting the victim from the snowmobile.
|
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 22. |
2/18/06 |
Oconto
County |
Struck a plow berm / Rollover |
36 |
.061 |
No |
| |
5:29PM |
Town of
Lakewood (road) |
Speed / Alcohol / Neck & Spinal injury |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| Victim while operating at high speed, left roadway, struck a plow berm causing the snowmobile to go end-over-end ejecting the victim. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 23. |
2/18/06 |
Forest
County |
Collision with a fixed object (shoreline) |
38 |
0.138 |
No |
| |
7:30PM |
Town of Nashville (lake) |
Head injuries / Hypothermia / Alcohol / Speed |
F |
WI |
Yes |
| Victim was traveling at a high rate of speed when the snowmobile struck the shore line and became airborne ejecting the victim. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 24. |
2/18/06 |
Sawyer
County |
Collision w/ a fixed object (tree) |
33 |
.292 |
No |
| |
11:30PM |
Town of Lenroot (road) |
Internal injuries / Speed / Alcohol |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim hit a snowbank at a high rate of speed, was ejected and struck a stand of trees. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 25. |
2/18/06 |
Sawyer
County |
Collision w/ a fixed object (shoreline) |
41 |
.165 |
No |
| |
11:54PM |
Town of Bass
Lake (Lake) |
Internal Injuries / Alcohol / Speed |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| It appears the victim hit the shoreline embankment of Lac Courte Oreilles Lake and was thrown from the sled through some small trees and brush, landing approximately 28' 9" from the shoreline impact. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 26. |
2/21/06 |
Oneida
County |
Collision with fixed object (tree) |
23 |
.000 |
No |
| |
1:48PM |
Town of Nokomis (trail) |
Speed / Head injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was traveling at a high rate of speed on a trail when he hit a rise in the trail, went airborne, and then collided with several trees along side the trail. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 27. |
2/21/06 |
Shawano
County |
Collision with vehicle (truck & trailer) |
26 |
.000 |
Yes |
| |
8:30PM |
Town of Angelica (trail) |
Internal injuries / Speed / Failure to stop at stop sign |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of the trail and highway. The victim fell or jumped off his snowmobile as it was crossing the highway and was struck by an automobile. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 28. |
3/03/06 |
Oneida
County |
Collision with another snowmobile |
45 |
.044 |
No |
| |
4:56PM |
Town of Lake
Tomahawk (lake) |
Head injuries / Alcohol / Speed |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| The victim struck a snow bank, lost control and was ejected from the snowmobile. A companion who was traveling behind the victim hit the same snow bank, lost control of the snowmobile and then hit the victim. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 29. |
3/03/06 |
Chippewa
County |
Collision w/ fixed object (shoreline) |
22 |
.085 |
No |
| |
9:05PM |
Town of Anson (river) |
Speed / Alcohol / Head injuries |
M |
WI |
No |
| The victim was on his way home, alone, after leaving the bar and struck the shoreline. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 30. |
3/04/06 |
Washburn
County |
Rollover |
44 |
.142 |
No |
| |
1AM |
Town of Evergreen (road) |
Suffocation / Alcohol |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| It appears the victim rolled his snowmobile on a steep ditch causing the snowmobile to roll over onto the victim. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 31. |
3/05/06 |
Vilas County |
Collision with fixed object (snowbank & tree) |
34 |
Pending |
No |
| |
5:46PM |
Town of Boulder
Junction (trail) |
Speed / Alcohol / Internal injuries |
M |
IL |
Yes |
| Victim was operating at a high rate of speed and hit a bank to the left of the trail. Victim lost control of the snowmobile, went 186' going up on the bank before hitting a large tree. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 32. |
3/07/06 |
Marathon County |
Collision w/ fixed object (metal sign post) |
31 |
.129 |
No |
| |
10:14PM |
Village of
Schofield (trail) |
Alcohol / Head & chest injuries |
M |
WI |
Yes |
| Victim left the trail when he failed to negotiate a turn, went air borne with victim being ejected from the machine. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 33. |
3/11/06 |
Oneida County |
Collision w/ fixed object (stump) |
58 |
Unknown |
No |
| |
10:00AM |
Town of Sugar Camp (trail) |
Internal injuries / Speed / Inexperience / Trail conditions |
M |
IL |
Yes |
| Victim was operating on a trail when he failed to negotiate a left-hand corner, left the trail, struck a tree stump and was ejected. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
34.
&
35. |
3/11/06 |
Sawyer County |
Collision with another snowmobile |
Victim #1 - 43;
Victim #2 - 34 |
Victim #1 - .000;
Victim #2 - .085 |
Victim #1 - No; Victim #2 - Yes |
| |
1:30PM |
Town of Winter (trail) |
Head and internal injuries / Alcohol / Speed / Failure to Yield |
Both - M |
Victim #1 - WI; Victim #2 - MN |
Both - Yes |
| Both victims were operating on the same trail heading towards each other when they met at the crest of a hill. Both victims made evasive maneuvers in the same direction; colliding head-on. |
| # |
Date/Time |
Location |
Type & Cause of Incident / Fatality |
Age/
Sex |
BAC/ Residency |
WI Safety Certified / Helmet |
| 36. |
3/18/06 |
Polk County |
Collision w/ fixed object (shoreline) |
36 |
.215 |
No |
| |
1:45AM |
Town of Apple River (lake) |
Neck injuries / Speed / Alcohol |
M |
MN |
Yes |
| The victim, traveling at a high rate of speed, struck an embankment consisting of trees and rocks and bounced back approximately 10 feet. |
Last Revised: Wednesday December 06 2006
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