SALEM - A 37-year-old Salem man died after his snowmobile crashed into a rocky island on Arlington Pond last night.
The accident was one of three serious crashes involving snowmobiles over the weekend. Other accidents were reported on Friday night in Hampstead and last night in Derry.
The Salem man, who was not being identified last night pending notification of his family, was brought to Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., following the 7:12 p.m. accident. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later, police said.
At the same time, another snowmobile crashed in Derry, leaving at least one person badly injured. Police were not releasing further details as of press time last night. A serious snowmobile accident was also reported in Hampstead the night before.
The Salem victim was snowmobiling last night with a friend on frozen Arlington Pond, off Route 111, according to police. He was riding his snowmobile in the dark, and apparently did not see the island, made up of rocks and boulders, until the last second, said police Sgt. Eric Lamb.
"He didn't see a small island come up in front of him," Lamb said. "At night, these islands come up fast."
From the track marks left in the snow, he had tried to swerve to avoid the collision, but couldn't avoid the crash, slamming sideways into the rocks, Lamb said.
The man did not have any visible injuries, and likely suffered from severe internal trauma, Lamb added.
Fire Capt. William Warnock said the island was about 600 feet offshore, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the injured man.
"It was out in the middle of the lake," Warnock said.
According to Lamb, the man's snowmobile was properly registered, and he was wearing a helmet.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is in charge of the ongoing investigation. No one from the department could be reached last night for comment.
