SNOWMOBILE FATALITIES

Autopsy protocols on all snowmobile fatalities were reviewed for a fiv e year period covering the years 1988-1992, with respect to the age of the victim, sex, operator status, type of accident, fatal injuries su stained, the presence of ethanol, and the month of the year and day of the week the fatality occurred. During the study period there were 31 snowmobile fatalities, accounting for 9.4% of all transportation fata lities. The majority of deaths (54.8%) resulted from drowning and or h ypothermia, either as a result of breaking through the ice or driving into open waters. Collision with a stationary or moving object account ed for 22.6% of fatalities, while being thrown from the machine accoun ted for 16.1% of deaths. Pedestrians accounted for 6.5% of all snowmob ile deaths. Head and chest injury were responsible for deaths due to c ollision, while head and neck injury accounted for deaths due to being thrown from the machine. All victims were male with an average age of 34.7 years and the majority (87%) were vehicle operators at the time of the fatality. Of those tested for the presence of ethanol 86.3% tes ted positive, 72.7% of whom were legally intoxicated. Accidents occurr ed throughout the months of December through May, with more accidents occurring on Friday and Tuesday than any other day of the week. Based on these findings snowmobile fatalities could be significantly reduced , with operator education regarding the hazards of ethanol and instruc tion in ice safety.