Snowmobile fatality in Mercer

MERCER Wis. — A 40-year-old Illinois man died early Sunday after the snowmobile he was riding struck a tree, according to an announcement from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office.

Iron County Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call at 12:43 a.m. Sunday, from the scene of the snowmobile crash on Trail 10 in the town of Mercer. The caller reported that a snowmobile and rider had gone off the trail and struck a tree.

The rider was unresponsive, according to the caller.

Deputies immediately responded to the scene, said Sheriff Paul Samardich in the crash announcement that was posted on the department’s Facebook page. Mercer Area Ambulance and Rescue, Mercer Fire Department’s snowmobile rescue unit, and a conversation enforcement officer from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also responded to the scene.

Emergency personnel conducted life saving measures but all attempts failed to revive the snowmobiler, Samardich said. The rider was pronounced dead at the scene by Iron County Coroner Diane Simonich.

The crash is under investigation by the Iron County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin DNR.

—Daily Globe staff