BRATTLEBORO — To add to the growing list of this winter’s snowmobile accidents, local law enforcement investigated two more crashes in Windham County last week.
This coincides with yet another fatal snowmobile accident in Vermont, this time in Salisbury, where five people on three snowmobiles fell through the ice of Lake Dunmore, causing the death of Kevin Flynn, 50, and Carrie L. Flynn, 24, both of Whiting, and three-year-old Bryanna Popp of Brandon, according to State Police.
Snowmobile accidents have now resulted in six Vermont fatalities in December and January alone.
In a less serious crash in Windham on Saturday, a Connecticut man was sent to the emergency room of Springfield Hospital for a broken wrist.
Jeff James, 43, of Brookfield, Conn., sustained the injury as the result of a three-vehicle collision with a father/daughter pair riding together on separate snowmobiles, according to the Vermont State Police Department, Rockingham barracks.
The police report stated that the case is still under investigation but that at this time, it appears there will be charges issued.
Speed appeared to be a factor, the police report said.
Neither the 13-year-old girl who collided with James nor her father was seriously injured.
All snowmobile operators born after July 1, 1983, who are 12 years of age and older, must take and pass a snowmobile safety course, according to Vermont law.
A Vernon youth narrowly escaped a snowmobile crash Jan. 6 with minor injuries after he crashed his snowmobile, according to the Windham County Sheriff’s Department.
The juvenile, whose name is not being released due to his age, was traveling through a field when his snowmobile collided with a set of logs.
He was thrown from the snowmobile and was brought home by the friend he was riding with.
As the winter months wear on, police are becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of those who engage in the popular pastime.
Lt. Richard Hopkins, commander of the Rockingham barracks of the State Police, is encouraging people to use caution when operating the potentially dangerous vehicles.
“Use helmets and know the areas where you are driving well,” he said. “Especially near water, it’s important to be familiar with what’s safe and what’s not.”
“The biggest thing,” he added, “is to abstain from using alcohol before operating the vehicle.”
Of the six deaths in Vermont this winter, one was said to be alcohol-related, though police have not released further information on whether charges will be filed.
That crash occurred on private land where police cannot enforce drinking and driving laws.
Source: Brattleboro Reformer –Jaime Cone can be reached at jcone@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 277.
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