Wisconsin Snowmobile Fatality Summary - 2006/2007 Season

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was the passenger on a side by side snowmobile with her seatbelt on. As the operator was going across the lake he hit a slushy area which he was able to throttle out of, and at this time he observed a dark spot on the lake and hit the brakes. The snowmobile slid sideways onto thin ice and went through the ice with the driver and passenger. The driver tried unsuccessfully to unfasten the passengers seatbelt.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was operating his snowmobile on the marked trail when he left the trail and struck multiple trees.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was operating his snowmobile and as he approached an intersection he attempted to braked for a stop sign, the snowmobile skidded sideways. The snowmobile continued across the highway where it appeared to have gone airborne after reaching the snow covered shoulder of the highway. The left side of the snowmobile impacted two maple trees approximately 23 feet from the shoulder of the road.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was operating his snowmobile at a high rate of speed when he attempted to slow down for the driveway, skidded approximately 119 feet and struck a tree.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was operating a borrowed snowmobile that had been modified with a second throttle lever on the left handle bar a short distance from the brake. It appears that the victim attempted to brake coming into a corner and at a high rate of speed and squeezed the 2nd throttle by mistake. The victim failed to negotiate the corner and went off the trail into some trees.

Age / Sex

IL

The victim appeared to have been leaning to the left, to take a left hand turn in the trail, when his body struck a tree which was on the left side of the trail. The snowmobile continued on, possibly rolled over and stopped while tipped on its left side.

Age / Sex

IA

The investigation indicated that the victim was traveling on the far right side of the trail when the right ski of the snowmobile caught a tree on the edge of the trail causing the snowmobile to hit the tree sending the snowmobile and victim airborne.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was attempting to cross Hwy 8 when he was struck by a semi-truck.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was operating a borrowed snowmobile on a snowmobile trail when he left the trail and struck some trees and rolled his snowmobile.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was last seen in a tavern near the accident and later found lying near the Hwy. The victim was operating at a high rate of speed when he saw the bank of the river too late, locked up the brake slid 111 ft. and hit a group of trees.

Age / Sex

IL

Physical evidence indicates that the snowmobile rolled over coming to rest against a tree on a slight curve in the trail. It appears the snowmobile rolled over the operator resulting in the death of the operator.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was found laying against a tree to the right of the trail after traveling uphill on a left-handed corner.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was traveling on a non-maintained road that was open for snowmobile travel. The operator left the trail striking a tree with his snowmobile and body on a slight curve to the right.

Age / Sex

WI

Physical evidence indicates that the victim did not follow a gradual curve in the trail on a frozen lake and drove into the woods at a high rate of speed and struck several trees. The snowmobile continued through the trees and flew upside down another 26 feet beyond the victim before coming to rest.

Age / Sex

WI

The operator was stopped at a stop sign at a trail crossing with a state highway. The operator proceeded to cross the highway and was struck by an oncoming motor vehicle and died.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim failed to negotiate a curve in the trail and hit a barb wire fence post with the snowmobile. Injuries were consistent with the barb wire fence.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was third in line of six snowmobiles when she went under a bridge at approximately 75 m.p.h. After going under the bridge one witness said it appeared she bailed off the snowmobile with her and the snowmobile continuing on the same track both striking some trees.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was racing with another snowmobiler when both snowmobiles struck a dip in the trail and a mound. Both operators lost control and fell off of their machines. The victim was then struck and killed by a third snowmobile.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was second in a group of three snowmobiles when he failed to negotiate a slight curve and left the trail colliding with trees. The victim was following the lead snowmobile to closely along with high winds which caused blowing snow and white out conditions.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was operating down a field drive when he traveled onto a roadway without stopping and yielding to motor vehicle traffic. The snowmobile struck the truck spinning the snowmobile around and throwing the operator from the snowmobile and under the truck.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was lead snowmobile in a group of four traveling at a high rate of speed across a lake. The victim fell from his snowmobile and was struck by the fourth snowmobile in the group.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was lead snowmobile ahead of his companion. The victim had just crossed a road and was operating on the trail parallel to the road when the second snowmobiler observed a cloud of snow dust and then observed the victim lying next to a group of trees. The trail was in rough shape and the victim may have hit a large rut in the trail, lost control and hit the group of trees. It appears the victim was operating faster than the 25 mph speed limit for the trail.

Age / Sex

WI

Two snowmobiles collided in the middle of a river channel and burned. The victim sustained severe head trauma and died. The second subject sustained serious back injuries and was med-flighted to a hospital.

Age / Sex

MN

Investigation shows that the victim left the trail at a high rate of speed and struck a tree. Incident under investigation.

Age / Sex

IA

The victim entered a slight S shaped curve and lost control of his snowmobile, tipping it on its side around the corner and struck a tree.

Age / Sex

IA

The victim with a passenger were operating across Lake Superior when the snowmobile broke through the ice, the passenger was able to escape uninjured.

Also Available:

• 2002-2007 Statewide Snowmobile Fatality Map
• Final Fatality Summary Report for 2005/2006 Season