Lewis County annual snowmobile report logs 1 fatal crash

LOWVILLE — Lewis County saw an increase in snowmobile crashes and tickets last winter, but not to the level of the 2005-06 season, according to a Sheriff's Department's snowmobile activity report.

There also was only one snowmobile-related fatality in the county last winter, making that the first season since 1999-2000 without multiple fatalities.

"Snowfall totals were fairly normal this past season," Deputy Michael F. Leviker, the department's parks and recreation officer, wrote in his annual report. "Lowville in the center of the county totaled 150 inches of snow. The Adirondacks to the east at Stillwater totaled 143.8 inches, and the Tug Hill Plateau to the west in West Leyden totaled 277 inches."

That followed the 2006-07 season in which the volume of snowmobilers was down due to relatively light snow cover until late in the winter, Mr. Leviker said.

There were 37 reported snowmobile crashes in 2007-08, up from 33 the previous winter. However, that's still below the 48 crashes in 2005-06.

Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor in nine of the county's snowmobile crashes. Failure to keep right was cited in six crashes, followed by operator inexperience in five and operator inattention in four.

Lewis County led the state in snowmobile crashes, followed by St. Lawrence County with 33, Oneida County with 29 and Oswego and Herkimer counties with 24 apiece. There were 12 crashes in Jefferson County.

Statewide, there were 316 snowmobile crashes and 26 fatalities. There were five fatalities in Oneida County, two apiece in St. Lawrence, Oswego and Herkimer counties and none in Jefferson County.

Snowmobile-related complaints in Lewis County increased from 71 in 2006-07 to 98 last winter, while the number of tickets issued rose from 204 to 342.

Lewis County Snowmobile Patrol members logged 4,811 miles on the department's seven snowmobiles, up from 2,581 miles in 2006-07.