COLEBROOK – A Swanzey man was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident Thursday on Trail 18 in Colebrook.
Michael Amer, 49, was transported by helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon with serious chest and leg injuries.
Fish and Game reported Amer lost control of his snowmobile, which went off the edge of the trail, over an embankment, striking several trees.
Colebrook Fire Department, 45th Parallel EMS, DHART Air Ambulance, and Fish and Game responded to a 911 call, reporting the accident at 5:45 p.m.
Colebrook Fire personnel arrived quickly at a staging area on Fish Hatchery Road, where they deployed their tracked ATV and rescue sled, utilizing it to reach the accident scene.
After being transported by rescue sled to a waiting 45th Parallel EMS ambulance, Amer was taken to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, where he was evaluated and subsequently transported by the DHART helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
"The response time by Colebrook Fire and 45th EMS was commendable. They were at the staging area, with all the necessary gear and manpower, within 15 minutes of the 911 call being placed, and were on scene, caring for the patient within 20 minutes of the call." said Fish and Game Officer Chris Egan. "The DHART helicopter also made excellent time, flying from Lebanon to Colebrook in just 38 minutes." he said.
Amer told officials he believed a cable or strap on his handlebar had interfered with his throttle prior to the crash. A member of his riding party also stated that he discovered a strap from a GPS unit wrapped in the throttle mechanism upon moving the sled from the scene.
Preliminary investigation indicates throttle interference as the likely factor leading to the incident. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
The snowmobile sustained damage to the front suspension, but was able to be driven from the scene to a nearby road.
Michael Amer, 49, was transported by helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon with serious chest and leg injuries.
Fish and Game reported Amer lost control of his snowmobile, which went off the edge of the trail, over an embankment, striking several trees.
Colebrook Fire Department, 45th Parallel EMS, DHART Air Ambulance, and Fish and Game responded to a 911 call, reporting the accident at 5:45 p.m.
Colebrook Fire personnel arrived quickly at a staging area on Fish Hatchery Road, where they deployed their tracked ATV and rescue sled, utilizing it to reach the accident scene.
After being transported by rescue sled to a waiting 45th Parallel EMS ambulance, Amer was taken to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, where he was evaluated and subsequently transported by the DHART helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
"The response time by Colebrook Fire and 45th EMS was commendable. They were at the staging area, with all the necessary gear and manpower, within 15 minutes of the 911 call being placed, and were on scene, caring for the patient within 20 minutes of the call." said Fish and Game Officer Chris Egan. "The DHART helicopter also made excellent time, flying from Lebanon to Colebrook in just 38 minutes." he said.
Amer told officials he believed a cable or strap on his handlebar had interfered with his throttle prior to the crash. A member of his riding party also stated that he discovered a strap from a GPS unit wrapped in the throttle mechanism upon moving the sled from the scene.
Preliminary investigation indicates throttle interference as the likely factor leading to the incident. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
The snowmobile sustained damage to the front suspension, but was able to be driven from the scene to a nearby road.
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