Wisconsin Snowmobile Fatality Summary - 2007/2008 Season

Age / Sex

MN

The victim left one tavern at approximately 8:00 p.m. and was heading to another tavern while operating illegally on a county highway. The victim was reported missing and located on the evening of 12/05/07. The victim missed a turn onto a side road, went airborne off a steep embankment and struck several tress.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim had been drinking prior to leaving a resort and was told that the ice conditions were not good on the lake but took that route regardless of the warnings. The victim went across the lake and broke through the ice.

Age / Sex

Both victims - WI

Three snowmobilers were traveling downstream on the Rock River when one of the snowmobiles broke through the ice, with the operator able to climb out. The surviving operator then drove the female victim’s snowmobile while she rode on back of the male victim’s snowmobile. The group continued downstream where the male and female victims broke through the ice. Victim #3 was recovered from the water approximately an hour later and pronounced dead; victim #4 was recovered on 12/10/07.

Age / Sex

IL

Two snowmobiles were traveling in opposite directions on a linear trail when the left sides of their snowmobiles collided. Victim was pronounced dead at the scene; the other operator was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was third in a line of three snowmobiles. Companions waited for victim at a stop sign and then searched for him when he did not appear. Victim was found conscious on his snowmobile along the trail. Victim stated he swerved to miss a deer and hit a tree. Victim complained of pain to the side of his body. Victim did not want an ambulance called but instead was transported towards a hospital by his wife. The wife called an ambulance while enroute and was met on the road. The victim died at the hospital of internal injuries.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim and three companions left a bar and were traveling on a groomed snowmobile trail when the first three snowmobiles left the trail. The victim struck a stand of small trees and rolled his snowmobile which ended up on top of him. The fourth snowmobiler did not crash.

Age / Sex

MN

Victim was operating his snowmobile on a roadway when he came around a 90 degree corner and struck a pick-up truck head on.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim was found lying near a telephone pole. On further investigation the track of the snowmobile led under the guy wire to the telephone pole and the snowmobile came to rest about 200 feet from the victim. The guy wire to the pole was impacted by the victim as it was partially pulled out of the ground.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim and companions returned to their hotel from a tavern. Victim and companions unloaded a snowmobile from their trailer. Victim proceeded to operate illegally down a roadway and without a helmet. When the victim failed to return, his companions located him unconscious on the roadway near a large tree. CPR was initiated, however victim was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Age / Sex

IL

Victim was riding as a passenger behind the operator on a one person snowmobile across Plum Lake. As the operator approached the shoreline he missed the marked trail that continued onto land, struck the shoreline and went airborne approximately 20-30 feet into a tree. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and the operator was flown to a medical facility for treatment of his injuries.

Age / Sex

WI

Victim failed to negotiate a curve in a roadway at a high rate of speed, went airborne off a snow bank and into several trees.

Age / Sex

#13: M;
#14: F

Both WI

A group of 5 snowmobiles were traveling illegally down a town road. The first two snowmobiles were traveling faster than the group when they crested a hill and collided head on with a truck. The first victim was ejected from his snowmobile and died, the passenger of the second snowmobile went under the truck and died; the operator was ejected. The operator was flown to a medical facility with multiple broken bones and other unknown injuries.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control and struck steel posts with attached steel fence leading up to a bridge over State Hwy 71. The victim was ejected from the snowmobile and landed on the blacktop of Hwy 71. The victim was found by a passing motorist and transported to a local medical facility and later flown to a second medical facility where he died.

Age / Sex

MN

The victim failed to stop before crossing a state highway and collided with a semi tractor trailer. Alcohol was involved.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was a passenger on a snowmobile which struck an ice heave and ejected both driver and passenger. The passenger was then struck by a snowmobile following behind them. Alcohol was involved with both operators.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was second in a line of six snowmobiles. The lead snowmobile crossed a state highway and then told the other snowmobilers to proceed. The victim failed to yield for a car and was struck.

Age / Sex

IL

The victim was traveling on a designated trail across Planting Ground Lake when he struck a snow drift, went airborne and crashed into the lake. The snowmobile was destroyed on impact; victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was second in a line of two snowmobiles when they passed an oncoming group of snowmobiles. The victim's snowmobile moved out into the center of the trail and collided head-on with the first snowmobile in the oncoming group. Both operators were ejected with the victim pronounced dead at the scene. The other operator was airlifted to a hospital.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was third in a line of four snowmobiles. The group left a tavern and were operating on a trail when the victim fell off his snowmobile and was struck by the last snowmobile. Victim pronounced dead at the hospital.

Age / Sex

IL

The victim was second in a group of three snowmobiles legally traveling on a roadway. The victim went wide on a curve, travelled into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with a truck equipped with a snowplow.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was first in a line of five snowmobiles operating illegally on a state highway. The victim ran into the side of a truck as it pulled out of a parking lot and was killed. The second snowmobile operator also ran into the truck, but was uninjured.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was third in a line of four snowmobiles operating on a linear trail. As the group passed a single snowmobile going in the opposite direction, the single snowmobile traveled into the oncoming side of the trail and collided head on with the victim killing him. The single snowmobile operator was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Age / Sex

WI

The victim was traveling with a group of snowmobiles when she accelerated across an open stretch of trail, entered a wooded curve too fast and braked hard. The snowmobile slid sideways and ejected the victim into a tree. The snowmobile then collided with both the victim and the tree.

Also Available:

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