Full Version: Pics from my accident
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In 98 I was hit head on by another snowmobile, the accident was caused by another rider that was on the wrong side of the trail, so for all those people who complain about the stay right rule listen up and see why it matters.
I had just crossed a road and was accelerating up a hill, I was going about 20 - 25 mph when all of the sudden another sled comes flying (literally) over this hill at about 50 mph, need less to say there was not much to do except try to turn to the right and go off the trail. This did not help and all I could think was I am going to die. :augen41:
Next thing I remember was someone talking to me asking if I was alright, I was on the ground so I tried to get up but I had a hard time doing so. I remember hearing my sled running and another guy screaming, the screaming was from the idiot who hit me. I eventually got up but I could not move my right arm and I was in a ton of pain all over (luckily the guy I was riding with was a first responder and he was able to get me situated).
I am going to jump to my injuries:
I had cervical spine injuries; nerve damage to my shoulder (permanent), neck and arm; torn ligaments in my hands; and a mild concussion. Needless to say I came out lucky because the ski from the other sled went through the windshield and hit me in the shoulder.
I had to go through therapy for 3-4 months and I stopped riding all together.
What caused this accident?
The other riders were racing across a rolling field; the rider that hit me was on the wrong side of the trail and also was cresting the top of a blind hill.
There was no way that the rider could control his sled at this speed because he became airborne once he crested the hill.
It was found that this rider had been drinking but a toxicology report was not completed.
I had grew up riding, heck my Dad taught me how to ride when I was 4 years old, so all I knew was snowmobiling in the winter months. My Dad was VERY SPECIFIC on ALL the safety rules and regulations with snowmobiling, and the one thing that sticks out time and time again is “stay to the right at all times”.
I can not imagine the pain my Dad must have felt that day when he came to the hospital and saw me on the board getting all tested out. I do know that he also quit snowmobiling that day, after 30 plus years of riding he stopped, he sold everything we had and quit. He said he did not want to ever see that again (what happen to me) and he did not want to risk his life because of careless people.
Last year I got the bug to ride, so I picked up a collector sled that we were storing at my Aunts and went riding. Later in the season I got my Dad out, and it felt so good to be out riding with him again!
There is nothing like being able enjoy the outdoors with great company!
This past year I bought a sled and I got my Dad to buy a sled, since then we have put on about 600 plus miles.
I can not say that all is the same, I am a VERY cautious rider and I am well aware of all my limits and surroundings. I am aware that I am a wife and kids and other family that are at home waiting for me, and I want to make it home to see them all.
Hopefully this will help at least one other rider think before they ride.
Later,
Pat
I had just crossed a road and was accelerating up a hill, I was going about 20 - 25 mph when all of the sudden another sled comes flying (literally) over this hill at about 50 mph, need less to say there was not much to do except try to turn to the right and go off the trail. This did not help and all I could think was I am going to die. :augen41:
Next thing I remember was someone talking to me asking if I was alright, I was on the ground so I tried to get up but I had a hard time doing so. I remember hearing my sled running and another guy screaming, the screaming was from the idiot who hit me. I eventually got up but I could not move my right arm and I was in a ton of pain all over (luckily the guy I was riding with was a first responder and he was able to get me situated).
I am going to jump to my injuries:
I had cervical spine injuries; nerve damage to my shoulder (permanent), neck and arm; torn ligaments in my hands; and a mild concussion. Needless to say I came out lucky because the ski from the other sled went through the windshield and hit me in the shoulder.
I had to go through therapy for 3-4 months and I stopped riding all together.
What caused this accident?
The other riders were racing across a rolling field; the rider that hit me was on the wrong side of the trail and also was cresting the top of a blind hill.
There was no way that the rider could control his sled at this speed because he became airborne once he crested the hill.
It was found that this rider had been drinking but a toxicology report was not completed.
I had grew up riding, heck my Dad taught me how to ride when I was 4 years old, so all I knew was snowmobiling in the winter months. My Dad was VERY SPECIFIC on ALL the safety rules and regulations with snowmobiling, and the one thing that sticks out time and time again is “stay to the right at all times”.
I can not imagine the pain my Dad must have felt that day when he came to the hospital and saw me on the board getting all tested out. I do know that he also quit snowmobiling that day, after 30 plus years of riding he stopped, he sold everything we had and quit. He said he did not want to ever see that again (what happen to me) and he did not want to risk his life because of careless people.
Last year I got the bug to ride, so I picked up a collector sled that we were storing at my Aunts and went riding. Later in the season I got my Dad out, and it felt so good to be out riding with him again!
There is nothing like being able enjoy the outdoors with great company!
This past year I bought a sled and I got my Dad to buy a sled, since then we have put on about 600 plus miles.
I can not say that all is the same, I am a VERY cautious rider and I am well aware of all my limits and surroundings. I am aware that I am a wife and kids and other family that are at home waiting for me, and I want to make it home to see them all.
Hopefully this will help at least one other rider think before they ride.
Later,
Pat
QUOTE(dntsne1 @ Mar 17 2005, 01:31 AM)
In 98 I was hit head on by another snowmobile, the accident was caused by another rider that was on the wrong side of the trail, so for all those people who complain about the stay right rule listen up and see why it matters.
I had just crossed a road and was accelerating up a hill, I was going about 20 - 25 mph when all of the sudden another sled comes flying (literally) over this hill at about 50 mph, need less to say there was not much to do except try to turn to the right and go off the trail. This did not help and all I could think was I am going to die. :augen41:
Next thing I remember was someone talking to me asking if I was alright, I was on the ground so I tried to get up but I had a hard time doing so. I remember hearing my sled running and another guy screaming, the screaming was from the idiot who hit me. I eventually got up but I could not move my right arm and I was in a ton of pain all over (luckily the guy I was riding with was a first responder and he was able to get me situated).
I am going to jump to my injuries:
I had cervical spine injuries; nerve damage to my shoulder (permanent), neck and arm; torn ligaments in my hands; and a mild concussion. Needless to say I came out lucky because the ski from the other sled went through the windshield and hit me in the shoulder.
I had to go through therapy for 3-4 months and I stopped riding all together.
What caused this accident?
The other riders were racing across a rolling field; the rider that hit me was on the wrong side of the trail and also was cresting the top of a blind hill.
There was no way that the rider could control his sled at this speed because he became airborne once he crested the hill.
It was found that this rider had been drinking but a toxicology report was not completed.
I had grew up riding, heck my Dad taught me how to ride when I was 4 years old, so all I knew was snowmobiling in the winter months. My Dad was VERY SPECIFIC on ALL the safety rules and regulations with snowmobiling, and the one thing that sticks out time and time again is “stay to the right at all times”.
I can not imagine the pain my Dad must have felt that day when he came to the hospital and saw me on the board getting all tested out. I do know that he also quit snowmobiling that day, after 30 plus years of riding he stopped, he sold everything we had and quit. He said he did not want to ever see that again (what happen to me) and he did not want to risk his life because of careless people.
Last year I got the bug to ride, so I picked up a collector sled that we were storing at my Aunts and went riding. Later in the season I got my Dad out, and it felt so good to be out riding with him again!
There is nothing like being able enjoy the outdoors with great company!
This past year I bought a sled and I got my Dad to buy a sled, since then we have put on about 600 plus miles.
I can not say that all is the same, I am a VERY cautious rider and I am well aware of all my limits and surroundings. I am aware that I am a wife and kids and other family that are at home waiting for me, and I want to make it home to see them all.
Hopefully this will help at least one other rider think before they ride.
Later,
Pat
I had just crossed a road and was accelerating up a hill, I was going about 20 - 25 mph when all of the sudden another sled comes flying (literally) over this hill at about 50 mph, need less to say there was not much to do except try to turn to the right and go off the trail. This did not help and all I could think was I am going to die. :augen41:
Next thing I remember was someone talking to me asking if I was alright, I was on the ground so I tried to get up but I had a hard time doing so. I remember hearing my sled running and another guy screaming, the screaming was from the idiot who hit me. I eventually got up but I could not move my right arm and I was in a ton of pain all over (luckily the guy I was riding with was a first responder and he was able to get me situated).
I am going to jump to my injuries:
I had cervical spine injuries; nerve damage to my shoulder (permanent), neck and arm; torn ligaments in my hands; and a mild concussion. Needless to say I came out lucky because the ski from the other sled went through the windshield and hit me in the shoulder.
I had to go through therapy for 3-4 months and I stopped riding all together.
What caused this accident?
The other riders were racing across a rolling field; the rider that hit me was on the wrong side of the trail and also was cresting the top of a blind hill.
There was no way that the rider could control his sled at this speed because he became airborne once he crested the hill.
It was found that this rider had been drinking but a toxicology report was not completed.
I had grew up riding, heck my Dad taught me how to ride when I was 4 years old, so all I knew was snowmobiling in the winter months. My Dad was VERY SPECIFIC on ALL the safety rules and regulations with snowmobiling, and the one thing that sticks out time and time again is “stay to the right at all times”.
I can not imagine the pain my Dad must have felt that day when he came to the hospital and saw me on the board getting all tested out. I do know that he also quit snowmobiling that day, after 30 plus years of riding he stopped, he sold everything we had and quit. He said he did not want to ever see that again (what happen to me) and he did not want to risk his life because of careless people.
Last year I got the bug to ride, so I picked up a collector sled that we were storing at my Aunts and went riding. Later in the season I got my Dad out, and it felt so good to be out riding with him again!
There is nothing like being able enjoy the outdoors with great company!
This past year I bought a sled and I got my Dad to buy a sled, since then we have put on about 600 plus miles.
I can not say that all is the same, I am a VERY cautious rider and I am well aware of all my limits and surroundings. I am aware that I am a wife and kids and other family that are at home waiting for me, and I want to make it home to see them all.
Hopefully this will help at least one other rider think before they ride.
Later,
Pat
Pat ...
Thanks for a great story...... I wished the guys I stop and give a citation to would read this... They never seem to fully understand why being on the other side of the trail can be a bad decision......
Thanks Again
QUOTE(dntsne1 @ Mar 17 2005, 12:31 AM)
I am aware that I am a wife and kids
UMM I did not see that :lol2:
I meant to say that I am aware that I HAVE a wife and kids...
Later,
Pat
You forgot the BEST part, your buddy then commenced to slapping the dog-shit out of the idiot!!!!!!!!!!! 
That would suck,Thankfully your alive"ski through the windshield".you said you remember hearing your sled and the other guy screaming.What happend to the other guy? Did the law get him for something?Did your buddie shut him up "mine would of"?
QUOTE(Finnyscat @ Mar 23 2005, 11:58 PM)
That would suck,Thankfully your alive"ski through the windshield".you said you remember hearing your sled and the other guy screaming.What happend to the other guy? Did the law get him for something?Did your buddie shut him up "mine would of"?
When he hit me he got air born. His sled barrel rolled about 5 times and his helmet went one way and he went another.
He landed before his sled but somehow the sled mangled his knee, I guess he had a smashed knee cap and a coupound fracture.
He got taken away in an ambulance and he never got a ticket from the cops or the DNR.
My friend I guess was chewing him a new ass when the paramedics were taking him to the road. I was told that the cops had to break up my friend and his buddy cause they were about to box... heck I was in the ambulance so I really did not care if he beat the livin crap him or his buddy.
I ended up sueing his insurace company but I realy did not get much. After all my bills and paying my sled off I think i had like 1300.00 , not the amount that I wanted but what can you do? My attorney said that was a good deal....
I hate law suits (only had this one but that is enough)
I have been "almost" killed too many times by careless sno-cross wannabes. We rarely ride trails anymore... mostly travel by GPS on fire-roads and ridgelines. Extreme Northern Quebec and this year Northern Ontario, Moosonee. Trails = Dangerous!
QUOTE(FormulaPro @ Dec 27 2005, 02:31 PM)
I have been "almost" killed too many times by careless sno-cross wannabes. We rarely ride trails anymore... mostly travel by GPS on fire-roads and ridgelines. Extreme Northern Quebec and this year Northern Ontario, Moosonee. Trails = Dangerous!
Pat : Thanks for the story. I have a friend who's brother was killed several years back by the same senario. Guy came over a hill, airborne, on the wrong side of the trail and landed on top of the victim doing about 70 mph.
I have had several close calls as well with the wanabe snoX guys out on the trail. IMO this along with drivers who are drinking are the greatest hazards.
QUOTE(Hert3 @ Dec 27 2005, 09:43 PM)
Pat : Thanks for the story. I have a friend who's brother was killed several years back by the same senario. Guy came over a hill, airborne, on the wrong side of the trail and landed on top of the victim doing about 70 mph.
I have had several close calls as well with the wanabe snoX guys out on the trail. IMO this along with drivers who are drinking are the greatest hazards.
I have had several close calls as well with the wanabe snoX guys out on the trail. IMO this along with drivers who are drinking are the greatest hazards.
Hey Hert:
The friend who got killed wasnt Terry Shubert was it?? Terry was a real close buddy of mine who had exaclty that same thing happen to him. He left a Wife and two kids behind.. I really miss riding with him!!
Just curious...
Ripper
good story, hope it teaches some people what to do right, good to hear you are riding agaion
I too have been riding for years, and I'm sick of the retards that drive beyond their capabilities, or better yet, their lack of brain.
I always drive cautiously, and try to avoid weekends on the trails. I ride with my wife now, so my riding style has changed. You can be as safe as you want, but it's the clowns.
My wife and I were at Pittston farms during the Yammaha demo's two weekends ago. People were riding like a--holes in the trails all the way over. We got to Pittston and we agreed to head back to camp and call it a day. On the way back we met up with the demo ride. I was in the front and my wife was behind me. We had 5 sleds pass us cleanly, and I knew more were coming ; and before you know it, here comes a fool on a new Nytro going way too fast for the turn, nailed his brakes, got sideways, and rolled the thing onto my wifes sled with her on it!!! She was stopped as she saw the idiot coming. As for damage, luckily enough, not much. The ski went uinder the trailuing arm and didn't bend anything, but the ther ski scratched the hood and ripped the decal. My wifes brand new 04 Viper S with 250 miles on it now had this happen to it. Needless to say I went off, probably too much more than warranted, but my frustrations with idiots on the trails spilled over to this incident.
Luckily it was a Yammaha demo ride, and the guys running the demo apologized like you wouldn't beleive. If any of you guys are reading this, I apologize for my reaction now, but I was pretty pissed. The Yammaha guys have arranged to have the hood buffed and the decal replaced at my local dealer so I can't complain.
I'm just glad my wife was O.K., that was my main concern. The squid on the Nytro had the balls to say, "I don't know what happened???? I said something like
Anyway, I have thought about giving it up. I'm not a pussy, but I'm just sick of these clowns. It's people my age driving like this; that's got me shaking my head. It's like their going through a midlife crisis or something. Yeah when I'm on a straighaway with clear visibility, I'm the first to mash it. But I don't drive beyond the machine going into corners, or driving on the wrong side of the damn trail.
I also wait till we get back to drink as well.
It's not everyone, you meet some really nice respectable people on the trails, but it only takes one idiot to change your life in the blink of an eye.
Be Safe.
Yammarules
I always drive cautiously, and try to avoid weekends on the trails. I ride with my wife now, so my riding style has changed. You can be as safe as you want, but it's the clowns.
My wife and I were at Pittston farms during the Yammaha demo's two weekends ago. People were riding like a--holes in the trails all the way over. We got to Pittston and we agreed to head back to camp and call it a day. On the way back we met up with the demo ride. I was in the front and my wife was behind me. We had 5 sleds pass us cleanly, and I knew more were coming ; and before you know it, here comes a fool on a new Nytro going way too fast for the turn, nailed his brakes, got sideways, and rolled the thing onto my wifes sled with her on it!!! She was stopped as she saw the idiot coming. As for damage, luckily enough, not much. The ski went uinder the trailuing arm and didn't bend anything, but the ther ski scratched the hood and ripped the decal. My wifes brand new 04 Viper S with 250 miles on it now had this happen to it. Needless to say I went off, probably too much more than warranted, but my frustrations with idiots on the trails spilled over to this incident.
Luckily it was a Yammaha demo ride, and the guys running the demo apologized like you wouldn't beleive. If any of you guys are reading this, I apologize for my reaction now, but I was pretty pissed. The Yammaha guys have arranged to have the hood buffed and the decal replaced at my local dealer so I can't complain.
I'm just glad my wife was O.K., that was my main concern. The squid on the Nytro had the balls to say, "I don't know what happened???? I said something like
Anyway, I have thought about giving it up. I'm not a pussy, but I'm just sick of these clowns. It's people my age driving like this; that's got me shaking my head. It's like their going through a midlife crisis or something. Yeah when I'm on a straighaway with clear visibility, I'm the first to mash it. But I don't drive beyond the machine going into corners, or driving on the wrong side of the damn trail.
I also wait till we get back to drink as well.
It's not everyone, you meet some really nice respectable people on the trails, but it only takes one idiot to change your life in the blink of an eye.
Be Safe.
Yammarules
QUOTE(RIPPER @ Jan 2 2006, 12:00 AM)
Hey Hert:
The friend who got killed wasnt Terry Shubert was it?? Terry was a real close buddy of mine who had exaclty that same thing happen to him. He left a Wife and two kids behind.. I really miss riding with him!!
Just curious...
Ripper
The friend who got killed wasnt Terry Shubert was it?? Terry was a real close buddy of mine who had exaclty that same thing happen to him. He left a Wife and two kids behind.. I really miss riding with him!!
Just curious...
Ripper
Was that in the Kalkaska/Fife Lake area? We witnessed a similar accident with a ZR and skidoo
QUOTE(dntsne1 @ Mar 17 2005, 12:31 AM)
In 98 I was hit head on by another snowmobile, the accident was caused by another rider that was on the wrong side of the trail, so for all those people who complain about the stay right rule listen up and see why it matters.
I had just crossed a road and was accelerating up a hill, I was going about 20 - 25 mph when all of the sudden another sled comes flying (literally) over this hill at about 50 mph, need less to say there was not much to do except try to turn to the right and go off the trail. This did not help and all I could think was I am going to die. :augen41:
Next thing I remember was someone talking to me asking if I was alright, I was on the ground so I tried to get up but I had a hard time doing so. I remember hearing my sled running and another guy screaming, the screaming was from the idiot who hit me. I eventually got up but I could not move my right arm and I was in a ton of pain all over (luckily the guy I was riding with was a first responder and he was able to get me situated).
I am going to jump to my injuries:
I had cervical spine injuries; nerve damage to my shoulder (permanent), neck and arm; torn ligaments in my hands; and a mild concussion. Needless to say I came out lucky because the ski from the other sled went through the windshield and hit me in the shoulder.
I had to go through therapy for 3-4 months and I stopped riding all together.
What caused this accident?
The other riders were racing across a rolling field; the rider that hit me was on the wrong side of the trail and also was cresting the top of a blind hill.
There was no way that the rider could control his sled at this speed because he became airborne once he crested the hill.
It was found that this rider had been drinking but a toxicology report was not completed.
I had grew up riding, heck my Dad taught me how to ride when I was 4 years old, so all I knew was snowmobiling in the winter months. My Dad was VERY SPECIFIC on ALL the safety rules and regulations with snowmobiling, and the one thing that sticks out time and time again is “stay to the right at all times”.
I can not imagine the pain my Dad must have felt that day when he came to the hospital and saw me on the board getting all tested out. I do know that he also quit snowmobiling that day, after 30 plus years of riding he stopped, he sold everything we had and quit. He said he did not want to ever see that again (what happen to me) and he did not want to risk his life because of careless people.
Last year I got the bug to ride, so I picked up a collector sled that we were storing at my Aunts and went riding. Later in the season I got my Dad out, and it felt so good to be out riding with him again!
There is nothing like being able enjoy the outdoors with great company!
This past year I bought a sled and I got my Dad to buy a sled, since then we have put on about 600 plus miles.
I can not say that all is the same, I am a VERY cautious rider and I am well aware of all my limits and surroundings. I am aware that I am a wife and kids and other family that are at home waiting for me, and I want to make it home to see them all.
Hopefully this will help at least one other rider think before they ride.
Later,
Pat
I had just crossed a road and was accelerating up a hill, I was going about 20 - 25 mph when all of the sudden another sled comes flying (literally) over this hill at about 50 mph, need less to say there was not much to do except try to turn to the right and go off the trail. This did not help and all I could think was I am going to die. :augen41:
Next thing I remember was someone talking to me asking if I was alright, I was on the ground so I tried to get up but I had a hard time doing so. I remember hearing my sled running and another guy screaming, the screaming was from the idiot who hit me. I eventually got up but I could not move my right arm and I was in a ton of pain all over (luckily the guy I was riding with was a first responder and he was able to get me situated).
I am going to jump to my injuries:
I had cervical spine injuries; nerve damage to my shoulder (permanent), neck and arm; torn ligaments in my hands; and a mild concussion. Needless to say I came out lucky because the ski from the other sled went through the windshield and hit me in the shoulder.
I had to go through therapy for 3-4 months and I stopped riding all together.
What caused this accident?
The other riders were racing across a rolling field; the rider that hit me was on the wrong side of the trail and also was cresting the top of a blind hill.
There was no way that the rider could control his sled at this speed because he became airborne once he crested the hill.
It was found that this rider had been drinking but a toxicology report was not completed.
I had grew up riding, heck my Dad taught me how to ride when I was 4 years old, so all I knew was snowmobiling in the winter months. My Dad was VERY SPECIFIC on ALL the safety rules and regulations with snowmobiling, and the one thing that sticks out time and time again is “stay to the right at all times”.
I can not imagine the pain my Dad must have felt that day when he came to the hospital and saw me on the board getting all tested out. I do know that he also quit snowmobiling that day, after 30 plus years of riding he stopped, he sold everything we had and quit. He said he did not want to ever see that again (what happen to me) and he did not want to risk his life because of careless people.
Last year I got the bug to ride, so I picked up a collector sled that we were storing at my Aunts and went riding. Later in the season I got my Dad out, and it felt so good to be out riding with him again!
There is nothing like being able enjoy the outdoors with great company!
This past year I bought a sled and I got my Dad to buy a sled, since then we have put on about 600 plus miles.
I can not say that all is the same, I am a VERY cautious rider and I am well aware of all my limits and surroundings. I am aware that I am a wife and kids and other family that are at home waiting for me, and I want to make it home to see them all.
Hopefully this will help at least one other rider think before they ride.
Later,
Pat
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