New York State Police are investigating a deadly snowmobile accident that occurred on the Adirondack Rail Trail in the Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County, NY, in the early afternoon of Saturday, February 1st. A snowmobiler had crashed close to the trail’s intersection with McMaster Road, known as McMaster’s Crossing, near McCauley Pond.
New York State Police, DEC Forest Rangers on snowmobile patrol, Saranac Lake Rescue and Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.
The man was packaged in a litter transporting him to the trail where he was loaded onto a UTV which took him to an awaiting ambulance. The ambulance transported him to a Life Net helicopter at Lake Clear Airport, which took the subject to the University of Vermont Medical Center.
An investigation determined a 2024 Polaris 650, operated by Steven J. Fernandez, age 39, of Saddlebrook, New Jersey, was traveling west on the trails, lost control, exited the trail, and went down a steep embankment, striking multiple trees.
According to State Police the man died from his injuries. This was the first fatal snowmobile accident since the Adirondack Rail Trail opened earlier this year.
Typically, at least a few people die each year in New York State snowmobile accidents, typically from excessive speed or operating under the influence.
The next day, Sunday, February 2, at about 11:35 am, Oswego County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a subject in a small boat, stuck between two rocks on the Salmon River in the town of Albion.
Just after noon Ranger Vaile arrived and threw a line to the subject. The boat was partly submerged with the subject standing on it.
Rangers worked with local firefighters to escort the subject to shore where he was warmed in an ambulance.
Firefighters used a guide boat to get the boat free and pulled to shore.
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