Caution on snowmobile trails urged
Snowmobile riders are being urged to use caution and common sense on Kane County recreational paths after two fatal accidents on the same trail this week.
Forest preserve police also plan to beef up patrols, looking for impaired and unlicensed riders, as soon as this weekend, officials said.
"We want to take a proactive role and make sure they're safe out there," Kane County Forest Preserve District police Chief Emad Eassa said Friday. "A lot of people use our trails."
A snowmobile crash about 1 a.m. Thursday on the Great Western Trail in Lily Lake killed 31-year-old Michael Kurbyun of St. Charles. The tragedy came just three days after Matthew S. Vandeborn, 32, of Elburn died from injuries suffered in an alcohol-related snowmobile crash in a different area of the same path, authorities said.
Public awareness has been further heightened by last month's death of CBS 2 anchor Randy Salerno, whose childhood friend is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle in the Wisconsin snowmobile crash.
In Kane County, Eassa said snowmobiles are allowed starting at 8 a.m. each day in five areas: Campton Forest Preserve along Town Hall Road, the Great Western Trail west of Wasco Road, the Batavia branch of Prairie Path, Hampshire Forest Preserve along Allen Road, and Oakhurst Forest Preserve along Fifth Avenue in Aurora. The speed limit is 15 mph.
Before this week, Eassa said, the most recent snowmobile fatality in Kane County was before his hiring in 2006. Statewide, eight riders have died this winter -- at least seven of them in alcohol-related crashes, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
"It's unfortunate these two fatalities happened within four days," Eassa said. "But the majority of the people who operate these things operate them in a good, safe and respectful manner."
Eassa's office recently received a $22,800 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to buy two patrol snowmobiles and related equipment. The gear arrived a few days ago and will be used for extra patrols and path-side safety checks.
For more information about snowmobiling in Kane County, call (630) 232-5980 or visit www.kaneforest.com.
Play it safe
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recommends the following safety tips for snowmobile riders:
• Never ride impaired.
• Never ride alone.
• Know your equipment and make sure it's in proper working order.
• Wear sensible, protective clothing, including a full-size helmet, goggles or face shield. Avoid long scarves.
• Ride only trails you know. If you want to venture elsewhere, consult someone familiar with that area.
• Avoid ice if you are unsure of its thickness.
• Check the weather forecast before snowmobiling.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources