Four life-ending snowmobile accidents occurred within days of each other in Vilas County. The first two accidents occurred when snowmobilers hit trees. The third crash took two lives. Chief Deputy Patrick Schmidt asked that people remember to operate their snowmobiles safely. Before today's crash, he stated, "We’ve had three in a month and every little bit of safety info we can get out, helps. This is not a good way to start 2023," he shared. After today, the total for Vilas County has been brought to five deaths.
FIRST ACCIDENT
At 2:27 p.m. on January 26, 2023, the Vilas County 911 Center received a call of a snowmobiler who had struck a tree in the Town of Phelps.
Officers identified the snowmobile had gone off the trail, near Marker 920, and struck a tree.
Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful and operator, Diana Kiel, 59, of Phelps, Wisconsin, was pronounced deceased.
Assisting with the investigation was the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Phelps Fire Department and Ambulance, Vilas County Medical Examiner, and the WI Department of Natural Resources.
SECOND ACCIDENT
On Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 7:02 p.m., 911 in Vilas County received a call that a snowmobiler had struck a tree in the Town of Arbor Vitae.
The snowmobiler had gone off the trail and struck a tree on Trail 17, which is near Schuman Road.
TG Redfern, 54, from Lovington, Illinois was pronounced deceased at the scene as life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
The Vilas County Sheriff's Office, Arbor Vitae Fire Department and Rescue, Wisconsin State Patrol, Vilas County Medical Examiner, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources all assisted with the investigation.
THIRD ACCIDENT
On Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 11:58 a.m., the Vilas County 911 Center received a call stating two snowmobilers had crashed on Trail 70 in the Town of Cloverland.
Emergency services responded. Both snowmobile drivers, Robert Groter, 75, from Wyoming, Illinois and Andrew M. Spiess, 43, from Elmhurst, Illinois, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Assisting with the investigation were the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Germain Fire Department and Ambulance, Boulder Junction Ambulance, Plum Lake Fire Department, Vilas County Medical Examiner, and WI Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
The accident is under investigation by the WDNR.
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(This post was last modified: 02-07-2023, 01:44 AM by My Northern Wisconsin.)
FIRST ACCIDENT
At 2:27 p.m. on January 26, 2023, the Vilas County 911 Center received a call of a snowmobiler who had struck a tree in the Town of Phelps.
Officers identified the snowmobile had gone off the trail, near Marker 920, and struck a tree.
Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful and operator, Diana Kiel, 59, of Phelps, Wisconsin, was pronounced deceased.
Assisting with the investigation was the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Phelps Fire Department and Ambulance, Vilas County Medical Examiner, and the WI Department of Natural Resources.
SECOND ACCIDENT
On Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 7:02 p.m., 911 in Vilas County received a call that a snowmobiler had struck a tree in the Town of Arbor Vitae.
The snowmobiler had gone off the trail and struck a tree on Trail 17, which is near Schuman Road.
TG Redfern, 54, from Lovington, Illinois was pronounced deceased at the scene as life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
The Vilas County Sheriff's Office, Arbor Vitae Fire Department and Rescue, Wisconsin State Patrol, Vilas County Medical Examiner, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources all assisted with the investigation.
THIRD ACCIDENT
On Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 11:58 a.m., the Vilas County 911 Center received a call stating two snowmobilers had crashed on Trail 70 in the Town of Cloverland.
Emergency services responded. Both snowmobile drivers, Robert Groter, 75, from Wyoming, Illinois and Andrew M. Spiess, 43, from Elmhurst, Illinois, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Assisting with the investigation were the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Germain Fire Department and Ambulance, Boulder Junction Ambulance, Plum Lake Fire Department, Vilas County Medical Examiner, and WI Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
The accident is under investigation by the WDNR.
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