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Lewis County snowmobile association reports 28 crashes this season; no fatalities
Summary
Mike Livicker reported 28 snowmobile crashes in Lewis County this season, with trees and unsafe speed the leading factors; he urged more local participation in safety courses as the county works with clubs and grooming operations.
Mike Livicker, vice president of the Lewis County Snowmobile Association, presented the association’s crash tally and safety observations to the General Service Committee.
Livicker said Lewis County recorded 28 crashes this season and—based on his review of state police, sheriff’s office and parks reports—this was the fourth season since 1990 without a fatality locally. He said trees were the most frequently struck object and excessive speed and unfamiliarity with local trails were leading contributing factors.
By township, Livicker said Martinsburg accounted for 10 accidents, West Turin 4, Montague 3 and other towns fewer incidents. He reported 33 sleds were involved overall, 20 crashes resulted in personal injury and eight did not. On demographics, the largest age cohort for crashes was roughly 51–55 years old.
Livicker said 17 of the crashes involved riders who had taken a safety course and 11 did not; he noted the state is considering more mandatory training and that local safety-course participation has increased (he ran about 90 students locally this season, up from 75 last year).
Committee members asked about counter readings and grooming operations; Livicker credited recent radio systems for groomers and improved wayfinding signage for improving safety across county trails.
No action was taken; the committee heard the report and logged it for information.
