Ever been in a snowmobiling accident?

ATVfan · 02-23-2010, 12:49 PM

I once fell off the back of a snowmobile when I was riding double. I did not get hurt, just scared! Luckily the driver knew and stopped for me.
Have you ever been in an accident?

Bradsalex · 02-23-2010, 11:41 PM

Well, my brother was driving a 600 triple (back in the day) and he decided to hit a 6 foot snowbank across the road. Well the aforementioned snowmobile can hit top speed very quickly and as we left the makeshift jump the snowmobile continued on as my brother and I sort of stayed in place. No damage to the sled, just my brother's pride.

I had and Uncle that died in a snowmobile accident many years ago. He was riding a trail at night and didn't realize that there was a 90 degree turn ahead. He had too much speed and as he turned his spikes gripped and the sled went around the corner. Sadly he couldn't hold on and he went head first into a tree. The helmet saved his life...but he was in a comma. Shoot, that 15 years ago or so.

Alexis · 02-24-2010, 11:01 AM

Bradsalex - I'm sorry to hear about your uncle. That's a really terrible thing to happen. I used to live in Pennsylvania, close to the New York State border where there were tons of trails, and, sadly, there were at least a couple of accidents every winter.

The only thing that ever happened to me is that I fell off a sled my dad was pulling behind his snowmobile and went rolling into a snow bank. Not a big deal.

campclose · 02-24-2010, 03:23 PM

Wow, that is awful! I'm sorry to hear about your uncle too. I don't like snowmobiles because I think they are super dangerous. I've seen too many people get hurt. Either by driving too fast, or not knowing something was in front of them.

calanta · 02-24-2010, 05:46 PM

Not in anything like that, but I have managed two car wrecks (neither my fault) in my adult life and 1 as a child (not drivers fault either, just slick roads).

That would kind of freak me out, but I am sure that I would rather be the driver too.

failghe · 02-24-2010, 11:34 PM

Bradsalex, also to hear about your uncle.
I have never gotten into a snowmobiling accident, but I did break my collar bone in a off road trike accident.

ATVfan · 02-28-2010, 09:50 AM

Holy cow! Snowmobiles are dangerous, more so than 4-wheelers I would think. I think you really have to know where you are riding and be really careful.
Sorry to hear about your uncle too.

enzo · 02-28-2010, 10:43 AM

I'm sorry about what happened to your uncle, Brad. I haven't tried the sport yet and I only see them on TV. We don't have a snow in the Philippines so the sport is not common here.

Bradsalex · 02-28-2010, 10:49 AM

Thank you for the sincerity everyone. Snowmobiles are very dangerous IF you don't pay attention. They are very safe if you know what you are doing and don't ride like a fool. Like ATVfan mentioned, you have to know where you are going. Many times I've been riding across a lake or field and it seems like the ground just drops out from under me. A combination of speed and not knowing your surroundings is what causes most accidents.

Lakes and bodies of water are especially dangerous if you are not familiar with that particular water source. The obvious dangers of riding across ice is whether the ice is thick enough to support you. I have hit open water before but I was going fast enough that I skimmed over it, not what I like to do in my past time. It's quite scary to be honest. If you don't know where the currents, inlets, and outlets are on that pond then you will not know when you are getting close to the dangerous areas.