(KNSI) – A northcentral Minnesota sheriff’s department is warning snowmobile riders about the dangers of riding after four people, including a Sauk Rapids man, were hurt in recent crashes. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says riders going too fast on snowmobile trails is the leading cause of the accidents.
The first accident was reported on Thursday night around 9:19 p.m. on the Paul Bunyan Trail in Powers Township, near Backus. Officials say a 66-year-old man from Sauk Rapids was on a snowmobile when he rolled, left the trail, and suffered injuries. The man was rushed to a Brainerd hospital.
On Friday night, the sheriff’s office got a report of a snowmobile crash with injuries involving a 33-year-old man from St. James. The crash happened on Old Grade Trail in Blind Lake Township, near Pine River. The man was also taken to St. Joseph’sJoseph’s Hospital in Brainerd.
On Saturday morning, first responders were called to a snowmobile crash in rural Backus on the Bull Moose Trail. The sheriff’s office says a 54-year-old woman from Zumbrota left the trail, went into a deep ravine, and hit a large tree. She was taken by helicopter to St. Cloud Hospital with serious injuries. On Saturday afternoon, a 43-year-old man from Elk River was hurt on a trail in Fairview Township in rural Brainerd. The man lost control of the snowmobile, left the trail, and crashed. He was taken to a Brainerd Hospital.
The sheriff’s office says all operators should know and understand their snowmobile and not drive faster than the trail conditions allow.
Law enforcement is sending the reminder ahead of this weekend’s Nisswa 100 snowmobile race and the Frozen Four event on Gull Lake in both Crow Wing and Cass Counties, February 26-27. The sheriff’s office says they’re expecting a significant amount of snowmobile traffic for both events and regular weekend riders in the area.
The warning comes after two Minnesota Senators were hurt in a snowmobile crash during an event on February 4th.
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