Jonas Pilot
01-20-2011, 04:02 PM
... FLURRY OF SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENTS
CONCORD, N.H. – With abundant snow creating ideal conditions for outdoor recreation in the Granite State this winter, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reminds snowmobile operators to ride safely and responsibly. Several accidents this season have already resulted in several injuries and one death.
"Thousands of snowmobile enthusiasts are riding safely this winter, but these accidents are an important reminder to review the principles of safe riding and check trail conditions before you head out, make sure you know your machine and its limitations, and wear proper gear while riding," said Capt. John Wimsatt, who coordinates snowmobile safety education and enforcement for N.H. Fish and Game.
Snowmobile incidents in New Hampshire this winter have included the following:
* On January 15, 2011, a Massachusetts woman was injured in a snowmobile crash on a trail in Dix’s Grant, N.H. Denise Rogers, 39, of Bedford, Mass., was operating her snowmobile about 2:30 p.m., when she fell from her machine, sustaining a serious leg injury. She was transported to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook and then to Dartmouth Medical Center, according to Fish and Game Conservation Officer Geoffrey Younglove.
* An Auburn, N.H., teenager was injured in a snowmobile crash in Pittsburg, N.H. on January 15, 2011. The 13-year-old rider was operating the snow machine near Back Lake Road in Pittsburg, N.H. at about 11:00 a.m. He was attempting to negotiate a corner when he lost control, leaving the trail and striking a tree. He was transported to the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to CO Geoffrey Younglove.
* A Vermont woman was injured in a Pittsburg, N.H., snowmobile incident on January 8, 2011. Bonnie Day, age 57, of Lowell, Vermont, was hurt after falling from her snowmobile. Pittsburg Fire and Rescue, 45th Parallel EMS personnel and Fish and Game Conservation Officer Chris Egan responded to the scene and found Day lying on her back in the snow on a fairly steep embankment. After being assessed by EMS, she was placed on a backboard and loaded onto a litter, which was then pulled by ropes a short distance to an awaiting ambulance. Day was transported to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities concluded that she had lost her balance and fallen off the machine while attempting to ascend the embankment. Neither alcohol nor speed were factors, and Day was wearing a helmet and appropriate outdoor clothing. The snowmobile, which had a total of 3 miles on it, was not damaged.
* On January 7, 2011, a Massachusetts man was injured in a snowmobile collision on Back Lake in Pittsburg, N.H., at about 11:15 a.m. Paul Jacobson, 55, of Millis, Mass., suffered a laceration to his head after being ejected from his snowmobile when it was struck from behind by another machine, operated by Anthony Addonizio, 38, of Revere, Mass. Addonizio was also ejected from his snowmobile, but was uninjured. The two had been riding down the lake in a northerly direction, when Jacobson slowed down and began to turn his machine around. Addonizio locked up the brakes on his snowmobile and skidded into the snowmobile operated by Jacobson. The two men were members of the same riding party, staying at a rented house on the lake. Pittsburg Fire and Rescue, and 45th Parallel Ambulance personnel treated Jacobson at the scene, and Pittsburg Police Chief Richard Lapoint assisted Fish and Game with the investigation. Jacobson was taken by ambulance to Upper Connecticut Valley
Hospital, where he was treated and released. Both men were wearing helmets, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Addonizio was cited at the scene for failing to avoid collision. New Hampshire law states that, “No person shall operate a snowmobile at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions and without regard for actual and potential hazards.” The law goes on to state, “In all cases, speed shall be controlled so that the operator will be able to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or object.”
* Earlier this winter, on January 4, 2011, a Nashua woman was injured in a snowmobile crash in Dixville, N.H. Celia M. Lingley, age 48, was attempting to navigate icy trails when she lost control of her snowmobile, throwing her from the machine. She was taken to the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital and then transported to Central Maine Medical Center by Maine MED, where she was later released. It appeared that icy trail conditions contributed to the crash.
* An Acton, Maine, man was killed in a snowmobile accident in Wakefield, N.H., on December 29, 2010. Jim Daigneau, age 48, had been riding in circles on a private lane near a friend's house when he lost control of the snow machine and rolled it over. He was thrown onto nearby rocks, sustaining traumatic upper body injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. Officials pronounced him dead at the scene of the accident.
For information on safe and responsible snowmobile riding, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/OHRV/snowmobile_safety.html.
CONCORD, N.H. – With abundant snow creating ideal conditions for outdoor recreation in the Granite State this winter, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reminds snowmobile operators to ride safely and responsibly. Several accidents this season have already resulted in several injuries and one death.
"Thousands of snowmobile enthusiasts are riding safely this winter, but these accidents are an important reminder to review the principles of safe riding and check trail conditions before you head out, make sure you know your machine and its limitations, and wear proper gear while riding," said Capt. John Wimsatt, who coordinates snowmobile safety education and enforcement for N.H. Fish and Game.
Snowmobile incidents in New Hampshire this winter have included the following:
* On January 15, 2011, a Massachusetts woman was injured in a snowmobile crash on a trail in Dix’s Grant, N.H. Denise Rogers, 39, of Bedford, Mass., was operating her snowmobile about 2:30 p.m., when she fell from her machine, sustaining a serious leg injury. She was transported to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook and then to Dartmouth Medical Center, according to Fish and Game Conservation Officer Geoffrey Younglove.
* An Auburn, N.H., teenager was injured in a snowmobile crash in Pittsburg, N.H. on January 15, 2011. The 13-year-old rider was operating the snow machine near Back Lake Road in Pittsburg, N.H. at about 11:00 a.m. He was attempting to negotiate a corner when he lost control, leaving the trail and striking a tree. He was transported to the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to CO Geoffrey Younglove.
* A Vermont woman was injured in a Pittsburg, N.H., snowmobile incident on January 8, 2011. Bonnie Day, age 57, of Lowell, Vermont, was hurt after falling from her snowmobile. Pittsburg Fire and Rescue, 45th Parallel EMS personnel and Fish and Game Conservation Officer Chris Egan responded to the scene and found Day lying on her back in the snow on a fairly steep embankment. After being assessed by EMS, she was placed on a backboard and loaded onto a litter, which was then pulled by ropes a short distance to an awaiting ambulance. Day was transported to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities concluded that she had lost her balance and fallen off the machine while attempting to ascend the embankment. Neither alcohol nor speed were factors, and Day was wearing a helmet and appropriate outdoor clothing. The snowmobile, which had a total of 3 miles on it, was not damaged.
* On January 7, 2011, a Massachusetts man was injured in a snowmobile collision on Back Lake in Pittsburg, N.H., at about 11:15 a.m. Paul Jacobson, 55, of Millis, Mass., suffered a laceration to his head after being ejected from his snowmobile when it was struck from behind by another machine, operated by Anthony Addonizio, 38, of Revere, Mass. Addonizio was also ejected from his snowmobile, but was uninjured. The two had been riding down the lake in a northerly direction, when Jacobson slowed down and began to turn his machine around. Addonizio locked up the brakes on his snowmobile and skidded into the snowmobile operated by Jacobson. The two men were members of the same riding party, staying at a rented house on the lake. Pittsburg Fire and Rescue, and 45th Parallel Ambulance personnel treated Jacobson at the scene, and Pittsburg Police Chief Richard Lapoint assisted Fish and Game with the investigation. Jacobson was taken by ambulance to Upper Connecticut Valley
Hospital, where he was treated and released. Both men were wearing helmets, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Addonizio was cited at the scene for failing to avoid collision. New Hampshire law states that, “No person shall operate a snowmobile at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions and without regard for actual and potential hazards.” The law goes on to state, “In all cases, speed shall be controlled so that the operator will be able to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or object.”
* Earlier this winter, on January 4, 2011, a Nashua woman was injured in a snowmobile crash in Dixville, N.H. Celia M. Lingley, age 48, was attempting to navigate icy trails when she lost control of her snowmobile, throwing her from the machine. She was taken to the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital and then transported to Central Maine Medical Center by Maine MED, where she was later released. It appeared that icy trail conditions contributed to the crash.
* An Acton, Maine, man was killed in a snowmobile accident in Wakefield, N.H., on December 29, 2010. Jim Daigneau, age 48, had been riding in circles on a private lane near a friend's house when he lost control of the snow machine and rolled it over. He was thrown onto nearby rocks, sustaining traumatic upper body injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. Officials pronounced him dead at the scene of the accident.
For information on safe and responsible snowmobile riding, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/OHRV/snowmobile_safety.html.