Three Snowmobilers Killed in 24 hours

Shafner79

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Three snowmobile deaths in 24 hours : News : CNYcentral.com

LEWIS COUNTY -- Three separate fatal snowmobile accidents are being investigated. Here are the details as we have them.

In Lewis County, State Police say 56 year old Edward Kohles, from Canastota, was killed when he lost control of his 2011 Polaris snowmobile, was ejected, and then hit by an oncoming snowmobile. Kohles was riding on a trail in West Turin, #C4A near Kraeger Road, about 12:30 Saturday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lewis County Coroner's Office.
Also in Lewis County, in the Town of Pinckney, one person is dead after he missed a curve on a state trail. Oneida County Sheriff's Deputies say it happened at 2:36am on Trail C5, known as the Mile Strip Access Road. 34-year-old Daniel Leonard, from Berkshire, was riding two abreast on his 2009 Polaris Dragon SP 800cc, and failed to negotiate a curve in the trail, was ejected and slammed into a tree.
Finally, in Oneida County, State Police are investigating the death of a teen in Taberg. This crash hapened Saturday night at 8:30. The victim's name and details are not being released



R.I.P.
 

We have had several fatal crashes in MI as well. Around here normally by this time of year the curvy wooded sections of the trails are "bermed up" so to speak making it quite a bit harder to get off trail and tangle with unmoveable objects. With the lack of snow theres no "berming" and inexperienced riders are blowing curves pretty regularly, then the next guy follows those tracks right off the trail! I dont know the experiencelevel of the riders involved but theres alot of people get on a sled and leave their brains at home. I have ben an active sledder for 15 of my 37 years and I had a lil mishap off trail involving pitch black, a 6ft embankment that lead to a 15ft drop off. I wasnt seriously hurt, Damn sure rang my bell! got back on sled and rode it home with a new found respect for safety for sure!
 
That is too bad to hear. Lewis county is less than 2 hrs away from me. Just have to be smart on the sled and becareful, and sometimes, that isn't enough.
 
ramblnman said:
sad to hear that...3 killed, 4 injured here in maine over the weekend as well..

heard same thing to bad. Trails are not ready people just wanna ride speed and trails do no mix well right now
 
I have not ridden in 3 years. I actually had a guy touch my ski with his ski while my sled was half off the trail because I saw him come screaming toward me all over the trail. If you can't hold your line you are driving beyond your ability. I want to take my son out but way to many dumb-asses. I would be happy with speed limits on the trails with designated open areas to go fast which can be avoided by those who do not want to 80 plus mph.
 
Devilin AblueDress! said:
... I had a lil mishap off trail involving pitch black, a 6ft embankment that lead to a 15ft drop off. I wasnt seriously hurt, Damn sure rang my bell! got back on sled and rode it home with a new found respect for safety for sure!

LOL, Well I followed a trail back from town gasing up while there and Parallel to the trail was another path going way up a hill. I was ok with a little hill climb 20-30ft or so. It was pretty easy and my son was following on his sled but held back until I clear. Well I went off the other side and nearly a belly floop. It was very very steep and rang my bell I tell you. My son was smart enough to keep his speed down as he crested the top and saw what happened. He came down easier and slower than my leap of faith.

LOL I done and he's never forgotten and not trust where ever I go. I don't take those side excursion any more without passing by and seeing where they come out now or just pass them by. Too much excitment for my heart.

Thats actually the second time its happened. Previousy about 15 years earlier and it was quite the drop let me tell you and I cam down hard, real hard. Best to still with the main path period.
 
sandmanmike1 said:
I have not ridden in 3 years. I actually had a guy touch my ski with his ski while my sled was half off the trail because I saw him come screaming toward me all over the trail. If you can't hold your line you are driving beyond your ability. I want to take my son out but way to many dumb-asses. I would be happy with speed limits on the trails with designated open areas to go fast which can be avoided by those who do not want to 80 plus mph.

I am rarely over 30MPH on the trails that wind through the bush and most here are two track (one each way). I stick the right and slow well into the turn staying on my right. If I see sleds coming and its snug passing both me and my son pull off to the right more and come to a full stop. After the oncomers pass we're off again enjoying the ride. Yeah on a good bush straight away I give a burst of speed but slow down well before the next turn or hill and driving in my line of sight and not beyond where I can see.

I've seen some people just a dancing coming around corners so fast that if they loose it that tree ain't going to move, even if they hit it. No sir, they're planted good.
 
2 lessons learned here. Be safe and don't ride a Polaris. Their haunted. But I hate hearing of people getting hurt/killed on snowmobiles. Feels like we lost family.
 
I'm wearing a Tek vest for riding this year for the first time ever. (I also had a bad wreck last season that put me in the hospital for a week with 8 broken ribs.)

Be careful out there everyone!
 
Just heard on the news another snowmoblie collision,34 year old man was killed after hitting a tree on the trail system....only 34 years old..


Man found dead on snowmobile trail
CJOB News Team reporting
1/29/2012


A 34-year-old Grand Marais man is dead following a snowmobile collision.
RCMP say the man was found on the Northstar Snowmobile trail just after midnight.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
It's suspected the man may have hit a tree.
Speed and alcohol have not been ruled out as causes.
 
sorry to report another 2 snowmobile deaths here in Manitoba.It involved a 14 and 17 year old girls.The 17 year old was a foreign exchange student.This happened South of us in farming country.Looks like they drove right into a parked trailer of some sorts..not good news for the family of the foreign student to be told.Someone should be in trouble for this,usually you have to be 16 to ride a sled unless it is on your own property...can't imagine why they would even be that close to a trailer to hit it...prayers go to the families here..can't imagine what the parents of the 14 year old is going thru right now..
 
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I rode the Lewis county trail system all day Saturday. I'll tell you , I have never seen so many dis-respectful idiots bon-zi-ing the trails. I couldn't wait to get out of there. 80% of the people out there were treating it like their personal sno-cross coures. Riding way beyond anyones ability. passing on turns, cutting you off. Speed was redicoulas. Just a dangerous place to be on Saturday for sure. Haven't come home more disgusted since I can remember.......
 
I thought that trail systems are regulated.Like speeding and reckless riding .If cops are stopping guys in some places for drinking and loud exhaust violations,why aren't they doing this with speeders??All it takes is a few to complain about it and they should set up spots to catch these idiots..
 


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