Wis. Department of Natural Resources
BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
News Release — VIOLATION HOTLINE: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367
DATE: February 10, 2019
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Wis. Department of Natural Resources conservation wardens, in partnership with state and local law
enforcement agencies, are jointly investigating four fatal snowmobile incidents plus an incident with lifethreatening injuries that occurred Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9, in the counties of Calumet, Dunn,
Langlade, Iron and Forest.
Lt. Roy Zellmer, of the Wis. Department of Natural Resources’ Bureau of Law Enforcement, says details
are few in each of the incidents as investigations are underway.
“These are tragic losses of life. The wardens are working with local law enforcement partners on each
investigation,” Zellmer said. “The identifications of the victims will be determined and announced by the
coroners or medical examiners in each county upon notification of family members.”
Brief summaries of the February 8-9 snowmobile incidents follow:
• Iron County: During the afternoon on Friday, Feb. 8, a snowmobile with a single operator
collided with a vehicle on a state highway. The operator is hospitalized and on life support due to
the serious injuries suffered. The Wisconsin State Patrol is leading this investigation with the
WDNR wardens.
• Langlade County: On Saturday, Feb. 9, a snowmobile with a single occupant collided with an
automobile on a state highway. The snowmobile operator was killed.
• Dunn County: About 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, a single snowmobile operator was traveling
southbound on a designated snowmobile trail in Township of Colfax. It appears the snowmobile
operator lost control of the snowmobile, left the trail and was ejected. The operator, a 29-yearold male from rural Boyceville, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical
Examiner’s Office. The crash remains under investigation by deputies from the Dunn County
Sheriff’s Office, Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office and the WDNR Bureau of Law
Enforcement, which is leading the investigation. Speed is a possible contributing factor to this
crash.
• Calumet County: About 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, a single snowmobile operator was
traveling on Lake Winnebago when it appears the machine struck a snowbank or an ice crack.
The machine landed atop the operator. The Calumet County Sheriff’s Department and the WDNR
wardens are jointly investigating. Alcohol and speed are possible factors.
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• Forest County: About 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, two snowmobiles were traveling eastbound
on a snowmobile trail on the frozen Pickerel Lake when a passenger and operator on the lead
snowmobile were ejected. The ejected passenger then was struck by the second snowmobile,
which was traveling behind as part of the same group. The passenger was severely injured and
died prior to a medical flight to hospital. Alcohol and speed are possible factors.
