Another Fatal Sled Accident?

[WestmoGuy]

www.wktv.com/news/local/15767812.html

Man, it was the son of the owners of the White Lake Inn.

How sad this is becoming

[kim]

What is going on up there? I don't remember this stuff happening this often in past years.

[WestmoGuy]

Mine sits in the shed where its been for the past year.

[bobbbiez]

I drive through those areas alot. With all the snow they have there it's brought many, many snowmobilers out to enjoy their sport, but watching them, I have also witnessed some pretty stupid ones that go way beyond the safety limits. Not surprised at all that there are so many accidents.

So sad to die for what, just for speed.

My sympathy goes out to his family.

[Ralph]

This is so sad, it's getting to be one accident after another this year.

[Clipper]

Well, they have done the same thing with snowmobiles that they did with motorcycles, jet skiis and anything else with an engine. They kept increasing the size of the engines and giving them more horsepower and speed until they have become suicide machines for the stupid.

I haven't had a snowmobile in quite a few years, but I once had a scorpion twin 440cc that would do over 80. Hell, that is a snail nowdays. Only someone young and foolish, old and foolish, or just plain drunk and stupid would do 70+ on wilderness trails.

It is very sad to know that the latest fatality is the son of the owner of the White Lake Inn. I have met that man a few years back, and he was a nice guy.

Young people many times feel invincible, and it costs them their lives. It is a shame that companies are not responsible enough to govern such toys for speeds more sensible for trail riding. Quads are going in the same direction and it is increasingly in the news where folks are killed by using poor judgement and high speed on those ATV's.

I guess we cannot legislate common sense, but how sad that so many have to die.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and friends of this young man, taken down in the prime of life. My prayers will be with them also.

[wcup102]

What is happening is a simple equation:

horsepower + speed x alcohol - common sense = death

It is ironic, sad as it may be, that the latest death is the son of the owner of the White Lake Inn as the two from Jersey had left there too, coincidentally about the same time of night, crashed primarily in the same manner and found in the same manner. I would tend to believe that autopsies will show alcohol, but how much? We will probably only be told that alcohol was a factor, if it is found. And if it is found in both opertaors, is it plausible to think that the bartenders are not cognizant that they are serving intoxicated persons or serving a person to a point of obvious intoxication? They are responsible when it comes to serving obvious intoxicated people and hold the ultimate right to cut off that person when they feel it necessary or appropriate. I think some one may be in hot water especially after a third death after leaving that establishment .

[dgriffin]

Someone told me (so I don't know it to be true) that the ABC tracks accidents and their proximity to bars and whether the victims were in the bars. And that after a certain number is reached, you lose your bar license.

[froggy]

Call me cold, cruel or just a plain old jackass but I share no sympathy whatsoever. Its a fair presumption to make that alcohol played a factor since he left a bar, then you add a machine that can go insanely fast, combined with riding it in the woods AT NIGHT and the chances are not very good. And moreso given that a couple just died on the EXACT SAME TRAIL just a few days ago, sorry looks like we have the latest winner of the Darwin award.

[rrogers40]

froggy said:

Call me cold, cruel or just a plain old jackass but I share no sympathy whatsoever. Its a fair presumption to make that alcohol played a factor since he left a bar, then you add a machine that can go insanely fast, combined with riding it in the woods AT NIGHT and the chances are not very good. And moreso given that a couple just died on the EXACT SAME TRAIL just a few days ago, sorry looks like we have the latest winner of the Darwin award.

Nope your correct- and I have no sympathy too. What do you think is going to happen when you go 90 through the woods and over lakes? Those things are worse than motorcycles- especially because kids can drive them without any real regulation. At least with motorcycles they tend to be on dry 2 lane roads with traffic lights and such.

[bobbbiez]

Very sore subject for me. I'm really sick of hearing it's everyone else's fault that someone gets too drunk to drive anything. When it should fall only on the person who doesn't take responsibility for their own actions.

Being a former bartender for many, many years I had my share of arguing and fighting with people who didn't have the brains to stop drinking on their own.

As a single parent with five kids I took a second job "bartending" to support my family not to be a "babysitter"or a "cop" for grown people who should have enough common sense to walk out of the bar when they've had enough. Working my a-- off I didn't need the added aggravation of fighting, sometimes physically, with any customers or did I need the fear of being arrested or sued because of someone else's stupidity.

Where does this stop? Should we now point the finger and blame the car dealers for the speed their cars can go , or the same for the snowmobile, boats, motorcycle companies and etc. etc. etc.

This kid is dead because of his own wrong choices. God rest his soul. He paid dearly. I don't believe any one else should be held accountable.

You couldn't pay me enough to be a bartender today.
It's no wonder why this world is so sue-crazy.

[Disgusted-Daily]

Is it possible we may just be jumping the gun here? I have been in a bar plenty of times and did not have one drink. It is safe to say that speed was a contributing factor.

Maybe he encountered someone else on the trail that hit him or pushed him off the trail. Either way it is very tragic and my heart and prayers go out to the family.

[wcup102]

Actually, as far as the ABC board, I know that law enforcement has to send referrals to the board for a review of their permit. But, I was also told awhile back the the ABC board is so swamped with referrals that when a single referral comes in for say a fight, or a disorderly premise, it is added to the pile for when they can get to it, usually about 6 mos. down the road. What some officers do is wait until they have "several" referrals, which usually does not take long, and then send them in. It tends to peak their interest more quickly when they get a "stack" rather just one and the response seems to be quicker. I don't know if they actially do any tracking or if they rely on L.E. referrals. And to be honest, I really don't have much sympathy either for these people but I was afraid to say that in fear of being run out town as a cold heartless bastard LOL!!!! It really is irresponsible of anyone to place blame anywhere else but the operator. If blame should be placed elsewhere, it should be on the people that knew him and watched him leave there without stopping him. Someone had to have seen him drinking or possibly showing signs of intoxication.

[frankcor]

You sum it up for me pretty well for me, wcup. When Andy Rooney's job comes open, you've got my vote to be his replacement.

[Disgusted-Daily]

So are we still assuming he was drunk?