Minnesota man killed in Iron County snowmobile crash

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

Hurley — The season’s latest snowmobile crash has left a Minnesota man dead following the accident Thursday in the town of Pence.

Iron County Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call at 11:02 p.m. Thursday reporting a snowmobile crash on Trail 15 off West Branch Road, between Spring Camp Road and Island Lake Road, in the town of Pence.

The call reported that a single sled was involved in the accident and the injured man was unresponsive, according to Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich.

Samardich said two snowmobiles were traveling on Trail 15 when the lead sled noticed his companion wasn’t behind him any more, leading him to go back to find him and locating the crash site.

Deputies, Hurley Snowmobile Rescue and Beacon Ambulance were dispatched to the scene and began lifesaving efforts once they arrived, but were unsuccessful.

Iron County Coroner Diane Simonich pronounced the Minnesota man, 38, dead at the scene.

“It appears the sled failed to negotiate a curve, veered off the trail and struck several trees,” Samardich said in a news release.

Gogebic-Iron Victim Services is assisting the family.

The name of the man is being withheld at this time and the crash remains under investigation.

The man is the latest Iron County fatality involving snowmobiles or off-road vehicles this month.

A Kenosha, Wisconsin, man was killed in a crash in the town of Knight Jan. 16; a Ixonia, Wisconsin, man was killed on Jan. 13 in a Hurley crash; and a Kenosha woman was killed on Jan. 12 when the utility terrain vehicle she was riding in slid off the roadway and overturned into water.