Printer Friendly Version  Email A Friend  Add This  Increase Text Size  Decrease Text Size

Snowmobile Accident - Personal Injury

Posted: 03/13/2023

Category: County Sheriff Press Release

< Back

Case Number: 23003077

Date Reported: 3/12/2023 at 1503 hours

Incident: Snowmobile Accident - Personal Injury

Location: Lake Ida

Case Details:

Complainant: Trista Stamness, Age 48 of Rochester, MN
Passenger: Torrey Westrom, Age 49 of Alexandria, MN
Operator: Juvenile male, Age 13 of Alexandria, MN

Details: On March 12, 2023, at 3:03 PM, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from Trista Stamness who reported a single vehicle snowmobile accident located on the north end of Lake Ida. Stamness reported a passenger on the snowmobile was injured.

Deputies and first responders responded to the scene and located the victim about 200 yards from the shoreline. A juvenile male was operating a 2009 Arctic Cat two-up snowmobile with a passenger identified as Torrey Westrom. The snowmobile struck a packed snowdrift on the lake causing Westrom to be thrown clear of the snowmobile. Westrom was complaining of upper body pain. The juvenile male was not injured.

North Ambulance and Leaf Valley First Responders tended to Westrom on the lake. Westrom was transported by snowmobile rescue sled to a nearby public access and transported to Alomere Hospital by North Ambulance.

Officer: Deputy Dustin Alexander, #211

Comments:

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 by Pamela
In Minnesota, all snowmobile operators who are at least 12 years of age and born after December 31st, 1976 are required to take a Minnesota-Approved Snowmobile Safety Course, and obtain a Snowmobile Safety Certificate before riding on public lands.
In Minnesota, all snowmobile operators MUST wear an approved helmet at ALL times when operating their snowmobile on public lands, regardless of age or experience level. A helmet is also mandatory for any passengers on the snowmobile.
The report fails to detail compliance with the snowmobile rules.

Leave your comment:
*Please note: Your comments need to be approved and will not display immediately after your submission.
CAPTCHA Validation
CAPTCHA
Code: