I saw this over at Koz's Snow Grooming Forums. Being that it is a safety issue I think it is important for as many people as possible to read this. We don't have a lot of professional groomers that frequent this site, Koz's site caters to the pros, but we do have lots of snowcat owners & operators here that can learn from this . . . don't operate your equipment in close proximity to kids! Be careful out there.
Also note that they forwarded this issue to the prosecutor, while they don't think criminal charges will be issued, it seems pretty amazing that they would consider it. All the more reason to consider this carefully.
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/boy_critically_injured_by_snow.html
Also note that they forwarded this issue to the prosecutor, while they don't think criminal charges will be issued, it seems pretty amazing that they would consider it. All the more reason to consider this carefully.
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/boy_critically_injured_by_snow.html
Boy critically injured by snow groomer
by Tom Tolen | The Ann Arbor News
Wednesday January 30, 2008, 8:17 PM
By TOM TOLEN
The Livingston Community News
It started as a fun class trip to the Mount Brighton Ski Area in Livingston County's Genoa Township.
That trip nearly turned tragic Wednesday afternoon when a 12-year-old Ontario boy was caught in a snow groomer.
The boy, Austin Miles, was rushed to the University of Michigan Medical Center in critical condition. But Brighton Area Fire Lt. Curt Ruf said he was stabilized by the time he arrived, and doctors quickly got him into surgery to save his leg.
"He'll have to go through a lot of rehab, but he should pull through just fine," Ruf said.
Livingston County Sheriff's detectives are investigating the incident.
Sheriff Bob Bezotte said Austin was on a field trip with about 120 students from the Amherstburg Public Schools.
Mount Brighton President and General Manager Joe Bruhn said the group was at the ski area to receive lessons and ski afterward. The lessons ended at about noon, and the group began skiing.
At about 1:30 p.m., Austin was on a slope for novice skiers when the groomer operator was "going from one unopened area to another," Bruhn said. The operator was identified as Robert Sturgis, 40, of Tyrone Township.
"The boy came down the hill, lost his balance and slid in front of the machine," Bezotte said.
Brighton Fire Marshal Michael O'Brian said Austin's leg was run over and caught in the groomer, which has tracks running along both sides and augers to smooth the snow. Austin was dragged 100 to 200 feet before the operator realized what had happened, Bezotte said.
Firefighters and emergency medical technicians worked for more than an hour to free the boy, O'Brian said. Corrigan's Towing of Brighton cut some of the steel with welding cutters.
O'Brian said it was too windy to airlift Austin to the hospital, so doctors and nurses were driven to the scene. He was taken by ambulance to the U-M Medical Center.
Austin's mother and step-father were among the chaperones who accompanied the group on the trip, Bezotte said.
Sturgis, who has operated a groomer for 15 years, "was very distraught. He really didn't know how it happened," Bruhn said.
"We've never had an accident like this before," he added. "It's an unfortunate situation."
Sturgis was taken to a local hospital after he appeared to be hyperventilating. Bezotte said deputies tested him for alcohol and determined he had not been drinking.
Bruhn said the groomer is not normally used when skiers are on the slopes.
But "it took a lot longer (to groom) because of all the rain we've had and the big change in the weather," Bruhn said. "We don't like having equipment on the slopes when skiing is open, and had it been a normal night and day before, it never would've happened."
When the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office for review, Bezotte said. But, he added, "I don't feel it's a criminal issue at this time."
Susan L. Oppat contributed to this report. Tom Tolen can be reached at ttolen@livingstoncommunitynews.com or at 810-844-2009.
by Tom Tolen | The Ann Arbor News
Wednesday January 30, 2008, 8:17 PM
"We've never had an accident like this before. It's an unfortunate situation."
- Mount Brighton President and General Manager Joe BruhnBy TOM TOLEN
The Livingston Community News
It started as a fun class trip to the Mount Brighton Ski Area in Livingston County's Genoa Township.
That trip nearly turned tragic Wednesday afternoon when a 12-year-old Ontario boy was caught in a snow groomer.
The boy, Austin Miles, was rushed to the University of Michigan Medical Center in critical condition. But Brighton Area Fire Lt. Curt Ruf said he was stabilized by the time he arrived, and doctors quickly got him into surgery to save his leg.
"He'll have to go through a lot of rehab, but he should pull through just fine," Ruf said.
Livingston County Sheriff's detectives are investigating the incident.
Sheriff Bob Bezotte said Austin was on a field trip with about 120 students from the Amherstburg Public Schools.
Mount Brighton President and General Manager Joe Bruhn said the group was at the ski area to receive lessons and ski afterward. The lessons ended at about noon, and the group began skiing.
At about 1:30 p.m., Austin was on a slope for novice skiers when the groomer operator was "going from one unopened area to another," Bruhn said. The operator was identified as Robert Sturgis, 40, of Tyrone Township.
"The boy came down the hill, lost his balance and slid in front of the machine," Bezotte said.
Brighton Fire Marshal Michael O'Brian said Austin's leg was run over and caught in the groomer, which has tracks running along both sides and augers to smooth the snow. Austin was dragged 100 to 200 feet before the operator realized what had happened, Bezotte said.
Firefighters and emergency medical technicians worked for more than an hour to free the boy, O'Brian said. Corrigan's Towing of Brighton cut some of the steel with welding cutters.
O'Brian said it was too windy to airlift Austin to the hospital, so doctors and nurses were driven to the scene. He was taken by ambulance to the U-M Medical Center.
Austin's mother and step-father were among the chaperones who accompanied the group on the trip, Bezotte said.
Sturgis, who has operated a groomer for 15 years, "was very distraught. He really didn't know how it happened," Bruhn said.
"We've never had an accident like this before," he added. "It's an unfortunate situation."
Sturgis was taken to a local hospital after he appeared to be hyperventilating. Bezotte said deputies tested him for alcohol and determined he had not been drinking.
Bruhn said the groomer is not normally used when skiers are on the slopes.
But "it took a lot longer (to groom) because of all the rain we've had and the big change in the weather," Bruhn said. "We don't like having equipment on the slopes when skiing is open, and had it been a normal night and day before, it never would've happened."
When the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office for review, Bezotte said. But, he added, "I don't feel it's a criminal issue at this time."
Susan L. Oppat contributed to this report. Tom Tolen can be reached at ttolen@livingstoncommunitynews.com or at 810-844-2009.