Published Tuesday January 12th, 2010
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com
A fatal weekend snowmobile accident near Miramichi is an unfortunate reminder of the importance of staying on trails, says the general manager of the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Inc.
Ross Antworth said snowmobiling not only comes with a great amount of fun, but also with a lot of risk.
“If you ride off-trail, you should be prepared that, some day, you are going to have a serious accident,” he said.
Antworth’s comments follow the snowmobile death Saturday of a teenager.
District 6 RCMP were called at around 6 p.m. after a report of a collision in an open field near the Pipeline snowmobile trail in Williamstown. A father and son from Lower Derby were on their snowmobiles when they collided with a wire fence.
Paramedics transported the pair to hospital, where 16-year-old Devon O’Donnell was later pronounced dead.
The father suffered serious injuries but they aren’t believed to be life-threatening, said the RCMP.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Antworth said snowmobile fatalities and accidents are due to three causes: not riding on the trail systems, alcohol and speed.
The federation general manager said when it comes to travelling offtrail, there’s not a lot of safety advice that can be offered.
“There is really nothing we can do in that regard when people make that poor decision,” Antworth said. “We are going to continue to impress upon people that riding on open designated trails is the best thing they can do to reduce the risk and improve their chances of coming home.”
Antworth said a property owner shouldn’t be blamed when an accident occurs.
“We cannot, should not, will not blame property owners. Individuals who have control of the snowmobile and or passengers on a snowmobile have to take all the responsibility.
People have designated trails that are prepared for them. They have an opportunity to run on a wonderful system in New Brunswick and they should use that system,” he said.
Antworth said snowmobilers should follow the rules of the Safe Riders! You make snowmobiling safe program.
It accents things such as not drinking and driving, knowing ice conditions, riding safely and respecting private property.
In the meantime, a 46-year-old Bathurst man has pleaded guilty to three counts of obstruction following an RCMP investigation into a fatal snowmobile crash in 2008.
Ross Veniot was fined $3,450 and placed on 12 months probation. He must also abstain from consuming alcohol or drugs and was suspended from operating a snowmobile for one year.
On Feb. 22, 2008, Veniot was operating his snowmobile on a managed trail near Popple Depot, approximately 70 kilometres west of Bathurst.
His wife Francine Pitre was a passenger on the snowmobile, which left the trail and struck a tree.
Pitre died as a result of her injuries, but Veniot was not injured in the collision.
Alcohol was determined to have been a factor in the collision, said the RCMP.
Veniot pleaded guilty to the charges of interfering with a police investigation by lying about his consumption of alcohol before and after the collision.
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