OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair kicked off Snowmobile Safety Week with details of sobering and tragic stories of seven snowmobile deaths so far this season.
At a news conference Thursday at the Ontario Travel Centre in Barrie, Blair said the OPP has tried repeatedly to educate people about sledding safety for a number of years.
"These are sad stories in the fact that these are real people who have lost their lives and the loss of their life impacts their families, their colleagues, all of their relatives and in fact it affects the police officers who have to investigate these," said Blair.
In one case, a man and woman — each on a snowmobile — were travelling on a lake on their way home from an evening ride after dark.
The woman was reportedly following the man and at some point, he noticed that his companion was no longer following him.
She and her snowmobile had fallen through the ice.
Her body was recovered two days later — on Christmas Day.
"Sadly sometimes people only understand real life situations and how it may impact them," Blair said.
Representatives of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs also attended the news conference to welcome sledders to the season with a safety reminder.
"While we are pleased to see many snowmobilers using OFSC trails safely and responsibly, there are still a number of them taking unnecessary chances and making bad riding choices," said the OFSC's Lisa Stackhouse.
Last year, there were 11 snowmobile fatalities all season.
There have been 177 deaths over ten years.
"So if you do the averages that's fairly high," said Blair. "Remember we're just beginning this season so our message is we're very concerned the start has not been that great. If you start doing the math on this the projected numbers are horrific and we're trying to quell that."
The other snowmobile deaths outlined by Blair included:
- A man was “test driving” a snowmobile and drove the sled near the seller’s property. He lost control, hit a tree, was ejected, and later died of his injuries.
He was not wearing a helmet.
Sadly, Blair said, this man brought his teenage son with him that day.
- In another occurrence, a man was observed travelling on a snowmobile down a road where a tree had fallen.
This large tree covered the entire width of the road.
The man was riding at night and died of his injuries after his snowmobile collided with the tree.
- In another incident that occurred after dark, a snowmobiler — who reportedly slowed down to safely negotiate a sharp turn — watched as another snowmobiler rode past him and failed to slow down to negotiate that same turn.
The snowmobiler lost control, hit a tree, and died of his injuries.
In another daytime occurrence involving snowmobilers travelling on frozen lakes, two people were riding separate snowmobiles on a frozen section of lake and suddenly came upon open water.
One of the snowmobilers was lucky enough to survive his harrowing ordeal.
His riding partner did not.
He and his sled sank below the surface and the man died.
"To say that we're frustrated to a certain extent?" said Blair. "We are frustrated and hopefully providing details this will drive home that this is real. Death is real and it can happen very quickly."
The Deputy Commissioner says officials are preaching patience to snowmobile enthusiasts who in their eagerness to ride put aside common sense.
Blair maintains there is enough enforcement on trails.
"We the police cannot be everywhere. We need the public to understand that the rules exist for their safety and to simply follow the rules. We will be there where required."
Riders are urged to follow the OFSC trail guide as a safe way to enjoy the sport.
