Man injured in snowmobile accident

The Schoolcraft County Sheriff’s department responded to a snowmobile accident Saturday that resulted in one man injured.

The snowmobile accident happened at noon on Saturday on Trail No. 8 near Ross Lake in Hiawatha Township.  According to the Schoolcraft County Sheriff’s Department, deputies came upon a trail groomer operator who was trying to call 911.  The groomer operator wanted to report that the groomer had been struck by a snowmobile, and that the snowmobile driver was injured.

Deputies helped the victim, an unidentified 60-year-old male from Clio.  The man attempted to pass the groomer on a bank.  He was ejected from the snowmobile, and struck the groomer.  The snowmobile continued past the groomer and hit the drag portion of the groomer that caused minor damage to the snowmobile.

Deputies were able to move the man to a nearby county road.  He was transferred to Munising Memorial Hospital by Alger County EMS with non-life threatening injuries.

The snowmobile trail groomer was from the Seney Snowmobile Club.  Deputies say the groomer had followed correct protocol when encountering the snowmobiler by bringing the groomer to a stop, and raising the ‘hydraulic drag’ to allow the machine to pass him.  No damage was reported to the groomer.

Deputies say that excessive speed and careless operation of a snowmobile are contributing factors to the accident.  The man was cited for careless use of a snowmobile.