JACKMAN, Maine — A Massachusetts woman suffered serious injuries Thursday when her snowmobile left a trail and crashed into the woods, according to the Maine Warden Service.
Bonnie Sancomb, 46, of Hopkinton, Mass., was among a group of six snowmobilers heading east from Jackman on Route 66 when she failed to negotiate a right-hand turn just after 10 a.m., according to warden service spokesman John MacDonald.
“Members of her party did not see her go off the trail and continued on,” MacDonald said. “They soon stopped after realizing she was missing from the group.”
The group located her about a half-hour later.
“The snowmobile had landed on top of Sancomb and it was also on its side with the studded snowmobile track continuing to spin while on top of her,” MacDonald said. “This caused serious injuries to her torso. Luckily there was cellphone reception in the area and their 911 call was received at 10:35 a.m.”
Jackman fire, rescue and ambulance, LifeFlight and the Maine Warden Service went to the scene, MacDonald said. A LifeFlight helicopter took Sancomb to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
If they can make a lawn tractor that stops if your rump isn’t in the seat, why can’t snowmobiles have this feature? I am so shocked to read the studded snowmobile track apparently mauled this poor woman for at least a half hour until her party found her.
Some, but not all, snowmobiles have tethers that are connected to the rider. If the rider fall off the machine the tether will disable the ignition. A sensor in the seat would not work for snowmobiles as often it is necessary to stand up or lean to maneuver.
you must have posted while i was typing
they do, it is called a tether switch, it is like a key that is hooked to a tether line which is hooked to the operator. When you fall off the machine it pulls the key out and snowmobile stops running
The real cure is to slow down. Speed is also the major cause for automobile accidents.
Why do we spend all the money making trails if people will not stay on them???
Hope she pulls through.
Jackman has got a great bunch of people up there.. God speed in her recoverery!!!
what a horrible accident-prayers to her and her family,hope she makes a full recovery…