Police now say 41-year-old Everett Willis, of Brainardsville, fell from the his snowmobile and was struck by another snowmobile driven by 41-year-old Todd Harrigan of Chateaugay. It happened on Upper Chateaugay Lake in Dannemora Friday night.

No charges have been filed as police are waiting [...]]]> New details in a fatal snowmobile crash over the weekend in northern New York.

Police now say 41-year-old Everett Willis, of Brainardsville, fell from the his snowmobile and was struck by another snowmobile driven by 41-year-old Todd Harrigan of Chateaugay. It happened on Upper Chateaugay Lake in Dannemora Friday night.

No charges have been filed as police are waiting for the results of a blood analysis of Harrigan.

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Jamie Fox was operating a snowmobile on a trail one mile south of Rockford. She reportedly fell off after losing control and was struck by a snowmobile operated by Michelle Ruzicka, 34, of Marble Rock.

The [...]]]> ROCKFORD – A 33-year-old resident of Greene was killed while snowmobiling Saturday afternoon.

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Jamie Fox was operating a snowmobile on a trail one mile south of Rockford. She reportedly fell off after losing control and was struck by a snowmobile operated by Michelle Ruzicka, 34, of Marble Rock.

The accident was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The trail follows the Shell Rock River in Floyd County, according to Kevin Baskins, a spokesman for the DNR.

The incident is under investigation by the DNR, Iowa State Patrol and Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.

The Assembly also voted to allow the Legislature to meet somewhere else – or even on [...]]]>

The Wisconsin Assembly has voted to make the night-time speed limit for snowmobiles permanent. A temporary 55-mile-an-hour limit is due to expire in July. It would stay at 55 under a bill passed yesterday. It now goes to the Senate.

The Assembly also voted to allow the Legislature to meet somewhere else – or even on the Internet – if they cannot get to the State Capitol because of an emergency. But the Assembly brought back a provision struck down by the Senate. It would have leaders of both houses appoint temporary members if a disaster wipes out at least 25-percent of the members of either the Assembly or Senate. Also yesterday, the Senate unanimously okayed a bill to ban health insurers from denying claims from those injured by the use of alcohol or drugs.

Everett J. Willis, 41, of Brainardsville was killed in the accident that happened at about 10:24 p.m. Friday near Boomhower Road, which runs along the southeastern end of the lake.

William Willis, also of Brainardsville, said [...]]]> DANNEMORA — The man who died in a snowmobile accident Friday night will be sorely missed by those who knew him.

Everett J. Willis, 41, of Brainardsville was killed in the accident that happened at about 10:24 p.m. Friday near Boomhower Road, which runs along the southeastern end of the lake.

William Willis, also of Brainardsville, said his younger brother “was a wonderful person and my best friend.”

He said Everett was especially devoted to their 83-year-old mother, Joyce Willis, who lives across the road from Everett’s home.

“He does everything for her,” William said, adding that was the main reason she is still able to live on her own.

That included installation of a new washing machine on the day of the fatal accident.

“He was that kind of a giving person,” William said. “He never complained about anything.”

His brother loved to ride his snowmobile in the winter, motorcycle in the summer and his four-wheeler in the woods whenever he could. He loved to joke with friends, William said, and he would pull pranks on his many friends whenever he could.

Everett was a correction officer at Chateaugay Correctional Facility. The brothers have lived in the Brainardsville area since birth.

“He touched many lives in a short period of time,” William said.

Everett and his wife, Amber, loved to travel, William said. He said she was dealing as well as anyone could under tragic circumstances.

“She’s amazingly strong.”

The couple have no children. William said that was part of the reason his brother was able to devote so much time to their mother.

Calling hours are from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Chateaugay Funeral Home. The funeral service is at 11 a.m. Thursday at Brainardsville United Methodist Church.

“The church won’t be big enough for this funeral,” William said. “We’re all going to miss him.”

Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said the accident occurred as a group of snowmobilers rode together on Upper Chateaugay Lake.

Clinton County Coroner David Donah responded to the accident Friday night and pronounced Everett dead. Sunday, Donah said an autopsy is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today at CVPH Medical Center.

Todd M. Harrigan, 41, of Chateaugay received multiple injuries in the accident. He was transported to CVPH Medical Center and was treated then discharged on Sunday.

In a press release, State Police said that as a result of the preliminary investigation, Roger J. Wilcox, 43, of Brainardsville was charged with operating a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol. He received an appearance ticket and was released to appear in court at a later date.

LaFountain said BCI and the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit personnel were still gathering information about the accident Sunday. He said police hope to be able to release more details today.

It happened in Houghton County at the Range Snowmobile Club in Portage Township.

According to the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department, a 26-year-old Houghton man was snowmobiling across a clearing near the club, when he slammed into another sled.

21-year-old Amanda Briggs of Lake Linden was driving [...]]]> PORTAGE TOWNSHIP — Two snowmobiles collided, and one person died Saturday night.

It happened in Houghton County at the Range Snowmobile Club in Portage Township.

According to the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department, a 26-year-old Houghton man was snowmobiling across a clearing near the club, when he slammed into another sled.

21-year-old Amanda Briggs of Lake Linden was driving that snowmobile.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Houghton man was taken to the hospital for his injuries and the incident remains under investigation.

Two Massachusetts men were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after two accidents at 2:30 a.m. Sunday in Rangeley. Wardens say one of the men’s machines [...]]]> RANGELEY, Maine (AP) ? The Maine Warden Service is investigating three snowmobile accidents that left four people seriously injured.

Two Massachusetts men were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after two accidents at 2:30 a.m. Sunday in Rangeley. Wardens say one of the men’s machines struck a parked camper trailer, and the other crashed into a clump of trees when he swerved to avoid the first machine.

In Greenville, a Lyman man suffered a serious leg injury Saturday afternoon when his snowmobile hit a 2-foot-high patch of packed ice on Moosehead Lake, launched into the air and flipped over.

And in Bradstreet Township near Jackman, a Winslow man suffered a broken arm after crashing into another snowmobiler at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that on Saturday afternoon the woman was driving her snowmobile across a field when she claims she found it wouldn’t stop.

The snowmobile struck a parked [...]]]> MONROE, Wis. (AP) – A 44-year-old woman suspected of drunken snowmobiling after a crash in southern Wisconsin tells Green County sheriff’s deputies the sled wouldn’t stop.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that on Saturday afternoon the woman was driving her snowmobile across a field when she claims she found it wouldn’t stop.

The snowmobile struck a parked truck, spun around and hit a 9-year-old boy. Authorities say the snowmobile kept going until it hit a fence, ejecting the driver.

It happened near Highway 11 in Spring Grove. The woman and the boy were taken to a Monroe hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Tentative charges against the woman include operating a snowmobile while intoxicated and causing injury by intoxicated use of a snowmobile.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj

Scott B. Davis, 51, was conscious and alert when Hustisford Fire Department ice rescue workers and first responders pulled him from the water. He was transported to Hartford Memorial Hospital for treatment due to hypothermia concerns, according [...]]]> HUSTISFORD — A Hustisford man was rescued from Lake Sinissippi Sunday afternoon after his snowmobile broke through thin ice.

Scott B. Davis, 51, was conscious and alert when Hustisford Fire Department ice rescue workers and first responders pulled him from the water. He was transported to Hartford Memorial Hospital for treatment due to hypothermia concerns, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

Davis’ was driving a snowmobile on the southeast end of Lake Sinnissippi, where the lake empties into the Rock River, when it broke through at 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

Dodge County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Loos stated in a press release that the ice was very thin and there were even pockets of open water in the area where Davis had been riding.

The crash remains under investigation.