Trucks & Trailers Snowmobiler killed in fairgrounds race

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GOUVERNEUR ? A Canadian sledder was killed and another racer was injured Saturday afternoon during snowmobile races at the Gouverneur & St. Lawrence County Fairgrounds.

Donald L. Theriault, 53, of Fraserville, Ontario, died after he was thrown off his vintage snowmobile and was struck by another racer?s snowmobile during a race at about 3:15 p.m., village Police Chief David C. Whitton said Saturday night.

?It?s terrible when someone loses a loved one,? the police chief said.

The other snowmobiler, John Altman III, 47, Fulton, also was thrown from his sled and was injured. But his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Chief Whitton said
The races were sponsored by the county fair association and the Northern N.Y. Vintage Snowsled Racers. It was the first time that snowmobile races have been held at the fairgrounds.

Mr. Theriault lost control of sled when he ?took a curve too tight and hit hay bales on the inside of the track,? the police chief said.

Mr. Theriault was thrown about 150 feet in the air and hit another, larger hay bale on the outside of the track, just as the other snowmobile was passing by. Mr. Altman could not avoid hitting him, Chief Whitton said. The length of the track was lined with hay bales to cushion the blow of accidents.

Both men were taken to E.J. Noble Hospital, Gouverneur, where Mr. Theriault was pronounced dead about an hour later by St. Lawrence County Coroner Jamie N. Sienkiewycz, the police chief said. The Gouverneur rescue squad, already on the scene, gave immediate medical treatment to both men before they were whisked away by ambulances to the hospital.

Read more at http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120219/NEWS05/702199898/0/FRONTPAGE
 
 
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