9th snowmobiler killed in U.P. this winter

Sledder dies after hitting fence line

By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Munising Bureau

SAULT STE. MARIE - A downstate Wexford County man was killed Saturday in a snowmobile accident in Chippewa County.

Kraig Larue, 28, of Buckley was riding with his brother and a friend in an open field when Larue's sled struck a downed barb-wire fence line, according to Michigan State Police troopers at the Sault Ste. Marie post.

"It was kind of a freak accident," trooper Joe Krzykwa said. "He wasn't racing around or anything."

Police said the barb-wire fencing was downed and buried in the snow, which concealed it from Buckley's view,.

"It (the wire) came right up over the cowling (of the sled)," Krzykwa said. "He didn't even see it."

The accident occurred on private property. Troopers said Buckley was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which was reported to police at about 12:45 p.m. Saturday.

Kinross EMS personnel and Dafter and Superior fire department crew members assisted at the scene.

Larue is the ninth rider killed this winter in Michigan and the third in the Upper Peninsula, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Previous fatal crashes in the U.P. have occurred this winter in Alger County in December and earlier this month in Keweenaw County.

Last winter, a total of 24 snowmobile deaths occurred statewide, with half of those occurring in the U.P. The two dozen deaths marked the lowest number of Michigan snowmobile deaths since the winter of 1991-92, when 19 sledders died.

Since the winter of 1999-2000, 12 riders have been killed in the U.P. during four of the six winters. The other two winters logged totals of 14 and 16 fatal accidents.

The record snowmobile death toll in the U.P. was 19 during the winter of 1998-99 and the statewide record of 48 deaths in a single season occurred in the winter of 1995-96.

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