Wednesday, 08 March 2006; GRAND ISLE COUNTY SNOWMOBILE UPDATE; Is the season over before it’s begun? You might have though so before this last snow storm. Many trails are now covered and March is known for it’s big snow storms so there may be more to come. It would be fun to get that sled out for a run. We remind our riders of safe and lawful riding. If you are riding in an area with no trails you need written permission from the landowner to cross private land. Riding on frozen waterways is even more dangerous this year. Ice conditions could be unstable due to the variety of winter weather. Be smart, be aware of the conditions, they change quickly as warm weather approaches. VAST works closely with State and Local Law Enforcement to keep riding safe. Unlawful riding can be expensive. Fines vary for... more news story here...
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March 3, 2006; Cuttingsville man dies in snowmobile accident; By Alan J. Keays Herald Staff ;Vermont State Police are investigating a fatal snowmobile accident Thursday night in Mount Tabor.Police said Brian Coburn, 35, of Cuttingsville was killed when his snowmobile struck a tree at the north end of Griffith Lake around 8:30 p.m.Police said while the crash remains under investigation, a witness reported speed may have been a factor. Police said Coburn was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor. full news story here...
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(Valley News — Denise Farwell) Wintertime, and the Ridin' Is Spotty; By Jessica T. Lee; Valley News Staff Writer
Orford -- Jessica Gould and her son were looking out on their Orford yard on Monday morning at the squirrels and their birdhouse, when they spotted a harbinger of spring -- and of bad snowmobiling. It was a robin. A red-breasted bird on a green lawn. In February. Warmth and rain have allowed Upper Valley residents to avoid snow shovels, but among those who have taken a hit are snowmobile enthusiasts beached by the lack of snow cover and the small businesses that depend on them during winter. more...

Conn. man killed in snowmobile accident; By DARRY MADDEN; Reformer Staff; WINHALL -- A Connecticut man was killed in a snowmobile accident here Tuesday. According to Winhall Police, Michael A. Fandacone, 37, of Berlin, was out snowmobiling with three friends when he lost control of his snowmobile and ran head-on into a tree. Neither excessive speed nor alcohol is considered a factor, police said. Bennington Police officer John Behan, who is currently on week-long leave from a tour of duty in Iraq with the Vermont National Guard, came upon the accident while out on a personal snowmobile ride.

According to police, Behan removed Fandacone's helmet and performed CPR for approximately 20 minutes. Efforts to resuscitate Fandacone were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by an assistant medical examiner from the state. Police said Fandacone had traveled to Vermont for a day of snowmobiling with friends Jeffrey Scheyd, Richard Antinerella and David Vumback and that all were experienced snowmobilers who have snowmobiled in the Bennington and Windham County area since 1991.

Police said they set out at 10 a.m. from the Twin Brook store in Woodford. They headed north on corridor 7, stopping for a snack at the Stratton Fire Tower. As they proceeded, Fandacone was second in the line of four. Winhall Police officer Bob Vargo, who is investigating the accident, said that Fandacone was probably trying to close an open compartment on his snowmobile, or he took his eyes off the trail to search for his friends, when he went off the trail and hit a tree.

The group was about 31/2 miles into the woods from the nearest road. A command post was established on Kendall Farm Road, and rescue workers reached the accident on snowmobiles of their own. Winhall Fire Department, Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, Winhall Police and Rescue, and Rescue Inc. all responded to the scene. "The last I heard, people were not riding down there," said Ann Shangraw, president of Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, which maintains the trails. Shangraw said that while last year saw eight snowmobiling fatalities, this is the first of this year.

A condition report from the VAST Web site for the Bennington County area says, "Trails in the Woodford Area are in poor condition, there are open waterbars and a limited trail base." Vargo, who arrived on scene via snowmobile, said that conditions were excellent. "I was surprised," he said. Fandacone's three friends were shocked and visibly upset. "They were crying," said Vargo. "They had to ride back to where they started, and then to home. I'm sure it was a long ride."