Franklin snowmobile crash joins long list of accidents in February

Warmer weather, a solid snow pack and a long holiday weekend led to multiple snowmobile crashes around the state, including one fatality in the North Country and two people injured in Franklin.

New Hampshire Fish and Game officers reported multiple snowmobile accidents around the state this weekend, making February totals particularly high.

At least 10 snowmobile accidents were reported throughout New Hampshire in February alone, resulting in multiple injuries.

One man had potentially serious life-threatening injuries after losing control of the vehicle and crashing it into a tree in Gilford. Another man rolled his snowmobile into the road in Pittsburg, and while he didn’t suffer any serious injuries, he appeared to be impaired and was arrested for operating the machine while intoxicated.

Conservation Officer Sergeant Matthew Holmes, who oversees Coos County, said that rideable snow came early this year to the north, with many snow trails opening up before Christmas. Because of that, he said a lot of people registered early — and with more people on the trails, more accidents were bound to occur.

Holmes said many accidents were caused by “inexperience and inattention” as well as speed. NH Fish and Game said that all riders should ride responsibly and stay on marked trails.

Closer to Concord on Saturday, three snowmobiles were traveling through the Franklin Falls flood control area around 2:30 p.m. when the group left a wooded portion of the trail and entered a field.

The rider in the lead, 42-year-old Sean Nelson of Pembroke, veered off the trail while 48-year-old Christopher Bourque of Boscawen also left the groomed trail, while continuing parallel to it.

As Nelson made his way back to the trail, he and Bourque’s snowmobiles collided. The machines rolled over and pinned Nelson’s foot in the snow. Passing snowmobile riders helped free the driver and give aid until first responders arrived, according to NH Fish and Game District Chief James Kneeland.

Nelson and Bourque suffered minor injuries and had friends transport them for medical attention. Both snowmobiles were badly damaged and determined to be inoperable.

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