Following a tragic Family Day long weekend in the Ottawa Valley, emergency officials are reminding the public to be cautious when it comes to winter activities.
Across Eastern Ontario, there were a number of snowmobile collisions and several near misses on unsafe ice from Feb. 17-19. The incidents included a fatal snowmobile collision in McNab/Braeside that claimed the life of the 29-year-old driver and sent a 33-year-old passenger to hospital with serious injuries.
Emergency officials are still examining the circumstances of that crash.
“At this time, we aren’t discussing the mechanism or the cause of the collision, as it is still under investigation,” said Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Acting Sgt. Brianna Roberge.
However, said Roberge, police do have a strong message to deliver to the public.
“The point we’re trying to drive home and the message we are sending from the fatality and multiple snowmobile incidents happening: speed is always a factor. Make sure you have control of your machine and are looking at your surroundings,” she said.
Consider a variety of things, she urged, including: trail conditions, space between fellow drivers/machines, distractions, impairments, ice thickness levels, etc.
“It’s just an overall awareness. And I think we’re seeing an increase in snowmobile collisions because no one has been able to get out and there’s finally a little bit of snow and people are trying to take advantage of their trail passes,” said Roberge. “I think people are just being a little bit overzealous and unfortunately, it’s causing collisions.”
The Arnprior Fire Department responded to a snowmobile collision on Sunday that sent two people to hospital.
Fire Chief Rick Desarmia said that while the circumstances of that crash are still being investigated, safety should be top of mind for all.
“Trails might be open, but conditions aren’t very good, you certainly need to be careful out there,” said Desarmia. “Snow machines are bigger and faster all the time.”
And the conditions so far this winter mean ice thickness is an ongoing concern.
“Ice conditions are certainly questionable. We want people to be cautious when venturing out,” said Desarmia.