Teen Snowmobiler Killed In Alcohol-related Crash

By SETH POWERS, Staff Writer

- BARTON -- Two Lowell men were arrested for snowmobiling while intoxicated after a two-machine accident that killed a Lowell teen on Crystal Lake Saturday night.

Shane Langmaid, 16, of Lowell, was pronounced dead at North Country Hospital Saturday evening.

The fatal snowmobile crash was the second one in Vermont this year, said Brian Cook, Orleans VAST director.

Langmaid attended North Country High School.

He was a passenger on a snowmobile driven by Jonathan Langmaid, 27, of Lowell, who had stopped his black Yamaha CT600 on the lake, state police said. An Arctic Cat ZR600 GRN driven by Randy Langmaid, 37, of Lowell, crashed into the rear of the Yamaha, striking Shane Langmaid, state police said.

According to WCAX-TV, Randy Langmaid is Shane's father.

None of the Langmaids were wearing helmets, police said.

Cook said a Vermont law passed last year requires snowmobilers to wear helmets or face up to a $136 fine.

Rescuers performed CPR at the scene and then transported Langmaid to Route 5 in a Barton rescue sled, authorities said. He was taken to North Country Hospital by a Glover ambulance.

Randy Langmaid was also transported to NCH for treatment of a broken arm.

Jonathan Langmaid and Randy Langmaid were processed for snowmobiling while intoxicated and released on citations.

Cook said a Vermont law passed last year made the penalties for drunken driving on a snowmobile equal to those for drunken driving in a car.

The Newport Police Department assisted in the case.

The Yamaha CT600 had major rear end damage, according to state police, and the 2001 Arctic Cat had major front end damage.


Original link ....
http://www.caledonianrecord.com/pages/top_...story/3e82cee5f

thats just wrong

That is so sad. I have a lot to say but nows not the time.

I am sorry for the loss of the young life, but I can't believe his father would show such irresponsability to ride drunk + have his 16 year old child riding 2 up on another drunken riders sled "his brother" I would suspect.

This is just down right sad!!


Roger

What made my jaw drop was that it was the kids FATHER that ended up killing him.
No way I'd want to live the rest of my life with that on my mind.
RobC ......

Sickening..........

How many of you actually would say something if you saw a buncha guys drinkn' while around there sleds? I know my first reaction would be to call the game wardens or my nieghbor cop, because i dont know about you guys but i dont want to share the trails with a buncha drunks. yah think people would know better by now

Wow thats sad..

I would agree.

Accidents happen and could this still have happened without drinking, maybe, but it sure did not help the situation.

Many of you will disagree with me, however, I believe all other states, including my state of NY, should have laws for drinking and operating a sled while intoxicated that are equal to driving a car. They should also be enforced better. I have gotten badgered for pipes and headlight covers while there are dumb ass drunks on sleds on there way to kill my wife, my friends or myself. In this case, am innocent kid. Maybe stronger laws will decrease the amount of idiots that put our lives in danger. All I know is that, some people just don,t think and it t was a bad decision...now he has to deal with a death he caused for the rest of his life.

Very sad

We were on IP Saturday night. Maybe 6-8 Ski-doo Revs, drag racing, and just playing around for the most part. With the snow dust kicking up, it was very difficult to see other sleds, even when they were close to you. That all lasted about 10 minutes for me. I ended up leaving because I had my fun, but it started to get dangerous. When someone stops, and the snow dust is still in the air, it makes it near impossible to react quickly at 80mph++++....

nearly all of the deaths are alcohol related this one got someone that was innocent
JOHN

I do not condone riding and pounding down beers but I think a few things need to be known before we hang these guys.It was an accident that more than likely was caused by the weather elements than alcohol.Apparently they were coming off the lake when the uncle and the young man were caught in a whiteout, they stopped and were rearended by the boys father.An accident that probably a lot of us have come close to than we want to think about.The pain that this family is going through must be beyond words,they are suffering more than most of us will ever know.They lost an 8yr. old son last year to an equally tragic accident so lets not hang the father and uncle just yet.May god have mercy on this family,I sure do.I know a little bit about emotions coming to a boil over drinking and riding because my 16 yr. old son was hit by a drunk rider 1 week ago.My son was riding home from school and he got run into by a man going the opposite way who was in my sons lane.If the guy had been 6 in. more on my sons side you would probably have been reading about that accident also.My son escaped with minor injuries and a totaled sled,which was his pride and joy.I told him a sled can always be replaced but that he couldn't ever be.I am such a lucky man because my son is sleeping in his bed as I write this,the Langmaids will never be able to get up in the middle of the night and pull the covers up on their son ever again,lets say a prayer for this family and let them grieve.I certainly am not their ultimate judge.

we'll there going to have another down brow party for a fellow rider :beer2: :celebrating: rest in peace

Thank you 800ho for the info. A very tragic event and I will never condone drinking and riding but until the whole story comes out the rumors fly. I can't imagine what the family is going through. I do wonder if helmets and visors would have made a difference. Very sad for all in the snowmobiling community.

HO Very well said, the Langmaid's have been in my thought and prayers since I read the original post
we let our son out for the first time on the trails sunday for his birthday riding his own, he is 12 he has been riding since the age of 5, we upgraded him to a 340 indy lite this year I coached him on trail rules, and gave him some additional pointers as well as placed him in between me and my wife and we took it slow and put on 25 miles.
after reading the traggic loss I spent some extra time with him at bed time just huggin him and thanking my HP for a safe ride.


Ride safe out there folks.

Roger

I can't imagine the pain this family is going thru. I understand that about a year ago their other son lost his life to an accident with his own gun. Losing two sons in a year has to be devasting to this family no matter what the current circumstances are.

I heard this tragic news the other night on WCAX and not only is it horrible for the family but is also terrible for the sport of snowmobiling. The fact that those involved were intoxicated and not wearing helmets is inexcusable. Alcohol and snowmobiling do not mix. The sport is dangerous enough and I have never understood how anyone can get wasted and ride. Don't get me wrong, I love a good Ale or a Grey Goose and tonic, it's just that I don't think that alcohol has a place in our sport.

Do you know for FACT that they were intoxicated?It burns my ass when all the saints in the world choose to pound on someone because they are so righteous.I would venture to say that there are very few of us that can say we never had a drink or took a short spin on a sled without a helmet.Am I saying it is acceptable behavior,hell no!But we should all look in the mirror before we crucify someone else.

I honestly don't know for sure if they were intoxicated or not and can only hope that alcohol didn't contribute to this horrible accident. Both WCAX and the Caldeonia Record indicated that two people involved in the accident were arrested for being intoxicated and that is all the information I had to go with.

I don't know anyone involved but was personally saddened to hear of this accident and feel bad for all those involved. I wasn't trying to crucify anyone and do apologize if I was out of line and angered anyone. At the same time I do believe that riding and drinking do not go together and should not be condoned or tolerated.