Another fatal accident Burt township ( Grand Marias MI )

[mjkaliszak]

A woman passed away today inbetween GM and Seney. She had fallen off her sled and was hit by an oncoming rider. Just passing the word, Condolence's to her family. No other info but there was alot of trucks & sleds at the cross road of the trail 443 & 888 ( If I remember right ). We turned around and stayed off trail most of thre day. Lot of traffic later in the afternoon today.
Very warm, 43 deg @ 6:30, trails took a beating also.

 

[blkhwkbob]

Drives me nuts when people don't slow down while passing oncoming sleds ANYWHERE on the trails. Is it really that much of a bother to slow down for two seconds to safely pass someone?

 

[whitedust]

We don't know what happened but feel bad for her Family. I do know a teenager fell off old Yam pogo stick sled in front of me & I went in pickers to avoid him. Dang pogo stick sled was jogging back & forth no wonder it threw him. He was a big boy too about 300lbs. I helped him up dusted him off sent him on his way but my nerves were shot the rest of the day toooooooo darn close. Stuff happens.

 

[snocat_02]

We don't know what happened but feel bad for her Family. I do know a teenager fell off old Yam pogo stick sled in front of me & I went in pickers to avoid him. Dang pogo stick sled was jogging back & forth no wonder it threw him. He was a big boy too about 300lbs. I helped him up dusted him off sent him on his way but my nerves were shot the rest of the day toooooooo darn close. Stuff happens.

Your right. Can't jump to conclusions until we know the whole story. I've been on the trail passing a group of sleds when one of the guys coming at me got thrown off his machine about 50 yards in front. Luckily I was able to stop in time. I feel terrible for the family of both the sledder and the rider. Prayers are with both.

 

[mjkaliszak]

It kind of spooked us, the reports are out now, no speed, no booze, were factors however... at the low speeds they claim it happened it must have been a whoop that threw her. She was probably watching the on coming sled and got thrown.
We ventured from a less crowded area to trail 8, pulled up and there must have been 40 sleds from several groups jamming an intersection ??? I told my group, were heading this way, went off trail and rode state forest roads & areas all day. There were alot of riders . I for one will make decisions to protect my group ( as best possible ).

 

[homan]

I was the person to call 911 to report this accident. I did not see it happen but from witness accounts she raised her hand to signal the oncoming riders of sleds behind her and lost control and rolled her sled. No one was driving recklessly. And no alcohol involved. She fell right into the path of the oncoming sled and he could not avoid hitting her. Prayers to all involved. Keep both hands on the handlebars at ALL times. This signalling crap needs to stop. It is STUPID!

 

[blkhwkbob]

Slow down when passing other sleds. Period.

 

[cuzzinolaf]

This signalling crap needs to stop. It is STUPID!

For the most part I agree. I would say the last sled should signal if any... and not on a straight away where you can see for 1/2 a mile or when there are multiple sleds all in sight.

 

[rv245]

Agree and to add to it

I slow down when I see sleds coming and also signal if possible mainly because my son or daughter is behind me. If conditions isn't right I don't signal. Being in control is more important and signaling any day.

Condolence's to the family

 

[IceJam]

I hear ya on this 1,If you know what your doing and have been on a snowmobile ever,KEEP 2 hands on the grips and watch the lights in front of ya !!..your buddy in front of ya will let ya know when his or her tail light goes brite red or the headlight thats in your eyes !...SAD STORY !

I was the person to call 911 to report this accident. I did not see it happen but from witness accounts she raised her hand to signal the oncoming riders of sleds behind her and lost control and rolled her sled. No one was driving recklessly. And no alcohol involved. She fell right into the path of the oncoming sled and he could not avoid hitting her. Prayers to all involved. Keep both hands on the handlebars at ALL times. This signalling crap needs to stop. It is STUPID!

 

[Polarice]

That is terrible to hear about this. I feel bad for the woman's family and the rider that accidentally hit her.

I think hand signals are appropriate when the user is in complete control. If you don't have the strength to control your sled with one hand if you hit a mogul or someone elses ski track then you shouldn't do it.

 

[90s]

I tend to agree to keep both hands on the grips; this saturday two sleds came around a corner way on my side of the trail going to fast, I moved over as far as possible, no contact, did signal one sled behind me, they did signal one more coming. I just pulled over & waited until the third sled passed. It's usually the last sled you have to be concerned about. For some reason the majority of sleds you meet just don't want to slow down, or when passing, they pin it just after passing. Maybe they don't like the brand I ride. I ride motorcycle quite alot, when meeting another bike there is a hand wave from one bike to the other, regardless of make. It seems on alot of ocassions there is no respect for your fellow snowmobiler on the trail.

 

[mjkaliszak]

. It seems on alot of ocassions there is no respect for your fellow snowmobiler on the trail.

I agree, we had hoople-head leader punch it just as he got to my son @ the end of our group. We will set up with leader & tail man most of the time. I told my son, don't worry .... when he pulls those ski's to be " cool ??? " later in the night we will find him tangled in a tree. I think the lack of snow has some adverse effects on people. Also had another talk with my daughters and told them to keep there hands on the bars, don't worry about signaling, I'm going to keep us bunched up when passing other groups. It's a different dynamic on the trails this year with the low / NO snow conditions.