Several of the state's recent snowmobile fatalities have occurred in northern Wisconsin and a DNR recreation warden says the familiar factors have been involved.
Warden Justin Bender in Woodruff has this report...
"...As of January this year there's been five fatalities. Three have been in Oneida, one in Forest and one in Juneau county. Of the five, we still are waiting blood results, it takes some time. But in four of those it appears alcohol was involved and we're still pending results from finding that out..."
Speed was also a factor in the fatal mishaps.
Bender says another factor is not having safety training to operate the machine...
"The crashes we've had is somebody that has either missed a corner or traveled off a corner and hit a fixed object, be it a tree or something like that...."
The Forest county death happened January 12 near Wabeno, a fatality happened the next day in the town of Schoepke in Oneida county, January 21 in the town of Minocqua, and January 26 in Lake Tomahawk.
Bender says not being intoxicated makes sense to keep yourself and other safe.
He says the night time speed limit is 55 mph and many drivers go to fast for their headlights. He says you really can't be too prepared and be sure to let people know where you will be.
