Four people were taken to the hospital after a chain reaction snowmobile crash in Kalkaska County.
That crash happened southeast of Fife Lake in Kalkaska’s Garfield Township. Sheriff Pat Whiteford says the four riders were traveling together on Trail 76, when they crested a hill and came face-to-face with a trail groomer. “They came to a point in the hill where the snowmobiles didn’t see the groomer.”
The popular winter activity in northern Michigan. But it doesn’t come without risks. Bill Gay is with the . He says, “Going over the top of hills, we really urge people to slow down going over the top of the blind hill, move to the – especially- stay to the right and observe caution because on a blind hill you never know what’s coming the other way. It could be another snowmobiler.”
Those four snowmobilers were traveling together on Trail 76 in Kalkaska County and the Sheriff says they didn’t see the trail groomer when they were cresting the hill, and the groomer didn’t see them as they were heading directly for each other. “The groomer was on Trail 76 coming eastbound and the four sleds were westbound on 76. They came to a point in the hill where the snowmobiles didn’t see the groomer and the first snowmobile popped over the hill and struck the groomer head-on. The second snowmobile came with similar action. The driver was actually able to bail off his sled but then was unfortunately hit by the third snowmobiler coming shortly thereafter. And the fourth snowmobile impacted the rear end of the third snowmobile.”
The Sheriff says speed was a factor in the crash. “There was no time for reaction, on the groomer’s part or the snowmobilers’ part. And then with four sleds in a row it was just too fast to react.”
One of the riders was pinned between snowmobiles. All four – three men and one woman – were taken to the hospital. The sheriff says there were bruises and back injuries but all have now been released. “You have to be careful, you have to pay attention to the terrain and know when you’re coming up on blind spots.”
The trail groomer itself is no small piece of equipment, and it’s usually pretty hard to miss, according to Bill Gay. “Those trail groomers, especially the ones we use in lower Michigan, are a lot of them are agricultural, large farm tractors. Four wheel drives, cab is about 14 foot to the top of the cab.”
Tommy McDonald is the Manager at in Traverse City. “It sounds like it was the perfect storm of, you know, a couple machines going too fast and cresting the hill and definitely that’s one of those times were happy you spent the extra money you have on safety gear because that’s what’s going to save you.”
The sheriff says all four were wearing helmets. McDonald says that’s the most important safety gear. “It’s great that they have a helmet on but really a fit of a helmet is what is really going to save you. Take the time and spend extra money on a good helmet.” He says helmets range in price from $200-$700, with high-end helmets coming with extra safety enhancements. He also points out that .
And Bill Gay says be mindful of the groomers, and give everyone room. “We all have to be patient with each other. And enjoy the ride. It’s more about the smiles than the miles, guys.”
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