Jan. 17, 2018

Contact: Lt. Eugene “Skip” Hagy, 906-293-5131 or John Pepin, 906-226-1352

Fatal snowmobile crash claims life of Saginaw man in Chippewa County

DNR conservation officers remind snowmobilers to slow down and ride with care

A 51-year-old Saginaw man was pronounced dead at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital in Newberry Tuesday afternoon after the snowmobile he was riding missed a curve and struck in tree in Chippewa County.

The name of the man is being withheld pending completion of the county medical examiner's report.

At about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, emergency responders – including Whitefish Township EMS, Whitefish Township Fire and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers – were summoned to Snowmobile Trail No. 8, between M-123 and the Curley Lewis Highway, on a report of a snowmobile accident with serious injuries.

The crash scene is located south of Paradise and Whitefish Point and west of Sault Ste. Marie in Whitefish Township. Snowmobile Trail No. 8 is the main east-west trail in the Upper Peninsula.

“It appears the operator of the snowmobile was unable to negotiate a corner on the trail and struck a tree,” said Lt. Skip Hagy, DNR District 2 law supervisor. “Resuscitation efforts were performed on-scene and the victim was transported by ambulance to Helen Newberry Joy Hospital in Newberry where he was declared deceased.”

Crash investigation was performed by the Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office.

In the wake of several fatal crashes in Michigan this winter, DNR conservation officers are reminding snowmobilers to ride safely.

“We are advising snowmobile operators to watch their speed and drive cautiously, especially in areas they are unfamiliar with,” Hagy said. “A large percentage of snowmobile accidents occur when drivers come into a corner too fast and go off the trail.”

For more information on snowmobiling in Michigan, including current laws and regulations, visit the DNR’s website at www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve.

Learn more about Michigan conservation officers at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.