Cuttingsville man dies in snowmobile accident
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By Alan J. Keays Herald Staff - Published: March 3, 2006
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.
In addition to State Police, rescue and medical personnel from the East Dorset/Mount Tabor fire department, as well as the Manchester Rescue Squad, responded to the rural scene. Rescue personnel had to travel about 12 miles by snowmobile to get to the remote location of the accident.
Coburn was pronounced dead around 9:45 p.m., shortly after medical personnel arrived, police said.
Mount Tabor/Danby Fire Chief Ken Abbott said Friday he was stationed at the command center set up about mile in from Route 7 on Fire Road 30. He said between 20 and 30 police, rescue and fire personnel responded to the scene.
He said police and rescue personnel did the best they could to respond to crash in a timely fashion. "Everybody worked together. It was a good response time," he said. "They were just not able to do anything for the person when they got up there."
The fire chief said the trail where the crash took place is a regular path for snowmobilers.
"It's the main trial off Fire Road 30 up toward the lake," Abbott said, adding it was well inside the federal forest.
Abbott said it's not unusual for snowmobilers to be in that area at night.
An autopsy has been ordered at the state Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington.
Police said Coburn's Ski-Doo MXZ 600 snowmobile sustained damage to the front end.
Contact Alan J. Keays at alan.keays@rutlandherald.com.
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