Has anybody heard of a snowmobile accident by kelly stand ofr kelly farm road. I heard there was a fatality there today.

Heard the same, but no details.

Here is story in today's paper. Look at web site WWW.reformer.com.

Its a sad day when things happen like this. My condolences to the family and friends

WINHALL -- A Connecticut man was killed in a snowmobile accident here Tuesday.
According to Winhall Police, Michael A. Fandacone, 37, of Berlin, was out snowmobiling with three friends when he lost control of his snowmobile and ran head-on into a tree.

Neither excessive speed nor alcohol is considered a factor, police said.

Bennington Police officer John Behan, who is currently on week-long leave from a tour of duty in Iraq with the Vermont National Guard, came upon the accident while out on a personal snowmobile ride.

According to police, Behan removed Fandacone's helmet and performed CPR for approximately 20 minutes. Efforts to resuscitate Fandacone were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by an assistant medical examiner from the state.
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Police said Fandacone had traveled to Vermont for a day of snowmobiling with friends Jeffrey Scheyd, Richard Antinerella and David Vumback and that all were experienced snowmobilers who have snowmobiled in the Bennington and Windham County area since 1991.

Police said they set out at 10 a.m. from the Twin Brook store in Woodford. They headed north on corridor 7, stopping for a snack at the Stratton Fire Tower. As they proceeded, Fandacone was second in the line of four.

Winhall Police officer Bob Vargo, who is investigating the accident, said that Fandacone was probably trying to close an open compartment on his snowmobile, or he took his eyes off the trail to search for his friends, when he went off the trail and hit a tree.

The group was about 31/2 miles into the woods from the nearest road. A command post was established on Kendall Farm Road, and rescue workers reached the accident on snowmobiles of their own.

Winhall Fire Department, Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, Winhall Police and Rescue, and Rescue Inc. all responded to the scene.

"The last I heard, people were not riding down there," said Ann Shangraw, president of Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, which maintains the trails.

Shangraw said that while last year saw eight snowmobiling fatalities, this is the first of this year.

A condition report from the VAST Web site for the Bennington County area says, "Trails in the Woodford Area are in poor condition, there are open waterbars and a limited trail base."

Vargo, who arrived on scene via snowmobile, said that conditions were excellent.

"I was surprised," he said.

Fandacone's three friends were shocked and visibly upset.

"They were crying," said Vargo. "They had to ride back to where they started, and then to home. I'm sure it was a long ride."

Holy crap, that is awfull.

I wounder if there are members here on HCS?

That is soo sad and wish that upon no one.

My sympathy goes out to all his friends and family.

My sympathies to his family and freinds. I do not know who he is but he lived in the town next to mine.

thats too bad

some of those corners heading toward arlington are really tricky....off camber...and 1 real tight slow 90 turn

ill bet it was on of those turns

Same here

I was there in Woodford on Tuesday. Parked at the Pine Valley Lot just past Twin Brooks at 9:30 am. It was a spectacular morning. I saw several groups, but it was not really busy. I rode alone up to the summit of Glastenbury Mountain and climbed the fire tower there. Then up to Kelley stand and back south to the parking area at 12:30. I never saw any indication of trouble. The thought that someone lost their life on that day in that area is absolutely inconcievable. I must say that I felt immensely lucky just to be out there. My deepest sympathy goes out to the man that lost his life, his family and his friends. We are all lucky for every day that we have.

Glenn Toole

West Dover, VT