RESTOULE — OPP were kept busy this past week with a flurry of snowmobile accidents including a fatal near Restoule, south of North Bay.
Few details but police have released the name of a snowmobiler that collided with a backhoe Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8) on Hawthorne Drive in Patterson Township.
The lone occupant of the snowmobile, Keith "Jordan" McNabb, 28, of Tara, Ont., was pronounced dead at the scene.
An OPP Technical Collison Investigator and a Collison Reconstructionist helped North Bay OPP with the investigation. No other details were provided.
Meanwhile, on February 4 at 8:30 p.m., North Bay OPP was called to Lake Nipissing for a single snowmobile accident in Nipissing Township. Investigation revealed the snowmobile hit a snow ridge throwing off the driver who laid injured on the ice for approximately two hours before being noticed by a passerby. The driver suffered serious non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital by paramedics.
On Sunday (Feb. 9), at 12:30 p.m., police investigated a single-vehicle collision involving a snowmobile and a tree on "A" trail near the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort in Papineau-Cameron Township. The driver was taken to hospital by ambulance with serious, non-life threatening injuries. Investigation showed the snowmobile left the trail and struck a tree. A 39-year old from Omemee, Ontario, was issued a three-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension.
Later that same day OPP investigated another single-vehicle collision involving a snowmobile on "A112A" near Cameron Road in Papineau-Cameron Township and a tree. The driver suffered minor injuries. No charges were laid.
The North Bay OPP has investigated eight snowmobile collisions this season including two fatal collisions, and four collisions with injuries.
Staff Sergeant William McMullen, Detachment Commander, advises "traveling on unsafe ice, speeding, driving too fast for the conditions and alcohol/drug consumption continue to be leading contributing factors in OPP-investigated snowmobile collisions and fatalities. We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate and enjoy the snowmobile season, but safety needs to be a priority for everyone."
#AlmaguinHighlandsOPP investigated a snowmobile collision on February 7, 2020 on Forestry Tower Road #PerryTWP. Driver left trail and struck a tree. He was taken to hospital by #EMS with non life threatening injuries. OPP reminding snowmobilers to slow down. pic.twitter.com/gby63v5Klh
— OPP North East Region (@OPP_NER) February 10, 2020
