Multiple Snowmobile Crashes Injure Several People Over Weekend

Concord, NH - NH Fish & Game officers responded to several snowmobile incidents across New Hampshire over the weekend.

A snowmobiler in Hillsborough crashed into a bob-house on Frankin Pierce Lake Sunday around 4:29 pm.

Jennie Larson, age 20, of Biddeford, Maine, was operating an unregistered Arctic Cat snowmobile in the boat launch area of Manahan Park. It appears she pinned the throttle of the snowmobile and traveled south on the lake according to NH Fish and Game.

Officers say “Larson was inexperienced, having never ridden a snowmobile before, and did not know how to operate the snowmobile to include turning or stopping. Larson accelerated south down the lake at a high rate of speed before crashing head-on into a bob-house.”

Larson was ejected from the machine into the bob-house. The snowmobile landed behind the bob-house. The snowmobile and bob-house were heavily damaged. Larson’s friends called 911 for help.

Hillsboro Police Department, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, Henniker Fire and Rescue, and NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers responded to the scene. Larson was transported to Concord Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. She sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Larson was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash is under investigation but it appears that inexperience and speed were the primary contributing factors.

Lt. William Boudreau thanked Livingston’s Arctic Cat in Hillsboro for providing assistance and UTV transportation for first-responder/rescue personnel to the crash site from the boat launch.

In Middleton Saturday at approximately 1:30 p.m., NH Fish and Game was notified of a single party snowmobile accident on a trail near Access Road in Middleton. On scene Conservation Officers along with Middleton Police found a single male who had been riding in a group when he lost control in a corner, went off an embankment, and struck a tree.

The operator identified as Ian Saia, 33 of Rockland MA, suffered injuries and was taken by ambulance to Frisbie Memorial Hospital. The cause of the accident is still under investigation however, speed and inexperience seem to be contributing factors. Riders are reminded to ride within their limits and experience level to avoid accidents.

In Claremont Saturday at approximately 5:50 p.m. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a single snowmobile crash with injury on trail 387 in the town of Claremont, NH. Claremont Fire Department, Golden Cross Ambulance, Claremont Police Department, and a Conservation Officer responded to the scene. The operator was riding at the end of the group of six when the snowmobile went off to the right side of the trail and struck a tree.

The operator, a minor from Keene, NH suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash. The operator was transported by a family member on a snowmobile to the nearest road. Golden Cross Ambulance evaluated and transported the operator to Valley Regional Hospital to be treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The operator was wearing a helmet, proper riding gear and had successfully completed an OHRV and Snowmobile Safety Education Course. It is believed that difficult terrain and rider fatigue were the leading causes of the crash.

On Sunday Shortly after 2:00 p.m., the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a snowmobile collision in the yard of a residence in Alexandria. A Conservation Officer responded along with medical personnel from the Alexandria and Bristol Fire Departments.

Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that Michael Plummer, 35, of Alexandria had been operating off-trail in a field near a residence, when he lost control of his snowmobile, hitting an outbuilding on the property.

Plummer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Franklin Regional Hospital by the Bristol Fire Department Ambulance.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers would like to remind the snowmobiling public to always ride within their abilities and be cognizant of trail conditions.

In Ellsworth, NH on Sunday shortly after 3:30 p.m. Fish & Game Department was notified of a snowmobile crash that occurred on Primary Snowmobile Trail 155 in the Town of Ellsworth.

First responders from Campton – Thornton Fire Rescue and a Conservation Officer with the NH Fish & Game Department traveled to the scene on a snowmobile. There they treated Kimberly St Laurent, 55, of Thornton, NH, for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Good Samaritan snowmobilers who had come across the crash had also stopped to help. Kimberly was transported on a rescue sled pulled by a snowmobile to an ambulance which then took her to Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth for further medical treatment.

Investigation of the crash determined that Kimberly was a passenger on a snowmobile operated by her husband, Michael St Laurent.

The pair had encountered a hairpin turn in the trail and were unable to successfully negotiate it, which resulted in the snowmobile tipping on its side. Both operators were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. It is believed that operator inexperience was the major contributing factor to the crash.