This death toll is just for one state--Wisconsin. I'm just wondering if this might be where we're heading with ATV's as they get bigger and faster. Has anyone seen any comparable data for atv's?



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Posted on Thu, Mar. 23, 2006



Snowmobile deaths approach state record
Ham Lake man is season's 36th fatality
BY JOHN BREWER
Pioneer Press

The death of a snowmobiler last weekend in Wisconsin's Polk County is only the latest in what has become one of the state's deadliest winters on record for the sport.

Since December 2005, 36 people have died in snowmobile accidents across the state. The record for one season — 1999-2000 — is 39 deaths.

"Hopefully, we don't meet that or beat the record," said Chris Wunrow, a recreational safety warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Spooner. A couple weeks of snowmobiling weather still remain in the upper reaches of the state, he said.

The most recent fatal crash occurred early Saturday on Balsam Lake.

Anthony Tatro, 36, of Ham Lake, Minn., was traveling between Paradise Landing supper club and the Blacksmith Shop bar on Balsam Lake at about 2 a.m. Saturday when he struck a peninsula of rock and trees, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Department and the DNR. His companions found him lying next to his sled. It appeared he tried to stop about 15 feet before he hit the bank. He was pronounced dead at Amery Regional Medical Center.

A preliminary report on the accident concludes that alcohol and speed were contributing factors in the death.

"It's a common combination," said Julie Fitzgerald with the Wisconsin DNR's Bureau of Law Enforcement. "Especially the speed. Generally, (accidents) are at night … driving so fast that you can't keep up with what's in the headlights."

Of the 36 fatal crashes this season, 21 occurred at night. A DNR report shows that both speed and alcohol were factors in 14 of those night incidents.

Wisconsin has no speed limit for snowmobilers after dark, but earlier this month, the Wisconsin Assembly and the Senate approved a bill that would limit nighttime speeds to 55 mph. Gov. Jim Doyle hasn't signed the bill, but a legislative aide for Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, the bill's lead author, said it should be in place for the 2006-07 snowmobile season.

Since 1994, 331 people have died in snowmobile accidents — an average of 27 people each year.

Vilas and Oneida counties in northern Wisconsin lead the list of counties with fatal crashes this year with six each, while the western counties of Barron, Burnett, Polk and Washburn have one each.

A handful of snowmobiling injuries have been reported this winter in Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties, sheriffs in those areas say. The most severe occurred March 13, when a snowmobile hit a woman walking at night along a New Richmond road.

Scott James Kaufhold, 46, of rural Somerset, was charged Monday with second-degree reckless injury in that incident.

Wunrow's advice for the rest of the season is to slow down.

"There don't have to be accidents," he said.

John Brewer can be reached at 1-800-950-9080, ext. 2093, or jbrewer@pioneerpress.com.

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© 2006 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.twincities.com

 

As long as people go GA-GA for bigger machines, the factories will oblige. What we will end up with is speed limits, or doing away with quads altogether like they did with 3 wheelers. If people can't control themselves, the government will do it for us... Personally, I think 500CCs is big enough. I do not think the 800+ we are seeing is gaining you anything at all other than bragging rights. Heck, street bikes are now seeing 1800ccs. That is pure insanity. Talk about Tim the toolman syndrome...