One dead, one injured after a pair of snowmobile accidents
CHIPPEWA COUNTY — Speed was a factor in two weekend snowmobile accidents in Chippewa County, one of which resulted in a fatality.
Deputies from the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office say the first of two separate snowmobile accidents occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. Saturday on Trail #8 near Paradise. Colleen Woods, 50, of Bay City, was traveling too fast for trail conditions and left the trail. She was ejected from her snowmobile and hit a sign. She was transported to War Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The second accident happened on Trail #480 south of Raco shortly before 1:00 p.m. Deputies say Craig Althouse, 27, of Highland, was also driving his snowmobile too fast for conditions and left the trail. He ended up in a group of trees. Althouse died from his injuries.
The accidents remain under investigation.
Deputies would like to remind all snowmobilers to operate their sleds at reasonable speeds and to be courteous to others along the trail.
[Photo courtesy: Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office]