Two snowmobiles through the ice 2-11 night

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

They should be charged for the costs of their rescue.

If this was a case of hikers being rescued in the White Mountains and the hikers had blatantly ignored widely publicized warnings of unsafe conditions, they would be charged for the rescue costs.

Good to hear that the snowmobiles were rescued. However if the reports on how it came about are true, then they should pay-up.

In addition to the cost of the rescue, a number of rescue personnel were put at serious risk.

[raydoe1]

Is the snowmobile on the bottom of the lake???

[Mink Islander]

Originally Posted by raydoe1

Is the snowmobile on the bottom of the lake???

Snowmos don't float so well, unfortunately. But dumb and dumber will soon find out how expensive their mis-adventure was when they get the bill for the recovery. Maybe they can charge them with skimming too. Lol.

[Slickcraft]

WMUR update:

ALTON, N.H. -- Authorities have charged two snowmobilers with OUI after rescuing them from Lake Winnipesaukee late Saturday.

Gilford firefighters said they received a 911 call from Jason Quin, 32, of Nashua who reported that he and a friend had fallen through the ice. Officials said Quin managed to pull himself out of the water but he remained stranded on the ice.

Neighbors also called for help after seeing the second snowmobiler, Derek Couture, 33, of Manchester, fall through the ice near the shore line.

"We have been hearing that ice conditions are very poor and this drives that point home. There are numerous ice ridges that have created open water -- even in the middle of the lake. These guys were extremely lucky that they weren’t more seriously injured, and that they had a phone that they could use and that could help them be located," said Gilford Fire Chief Stephen Carrier.

Quin was transported by DART helicopter to Lakes Region General Hospital where he was evaluated for hypothermia. Couture was transported by ambulance to Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro.

Both men were treated and released before they were charged. Both men were free on bail Sunday morning and were due in court in March.

Alton Fire Department, Tuftonboro Fire Department, DHART, Gilford Fire-Rescue, Gilford Police Department, and NH Fish & Game assisted at the scene.

[Sandy Island fan]

My husband often quotes: "Apparently, God watches out for drunks and fools.." These guys seemed to have covered both bases.

[MAXUM]

Darwin also awards drunks and fools too!

I can't even begin to express the stupidity of these two. Even worse, those of us that are hardcore snowmobilers have to fight the public image that is left when stuff like this happens.

Kudos to the folks that risk their own life to go out and rescue these guys.

[ITD]

There basically no snow on the lake, tough on the tracks and nothing to cool the sled unless it is air cooled. Pretty dumb. Was on Blackies cove, ice was 8 to 14 inches thick. Snowmobiles stayed locked up though.

[Little Bear]

Does anyone know where they fell in/lost the sled?

I was watching the helicopter shine the light down on the lake last night. Could also see flashing lights on the lake, which must have been a rescue vehicle (ATV, sled or airboat)? I turned on my hand-held NAV/COM radio and heard the DHART helicopter broadcasting to Laconia traffic.

[NoBozo]

If the DHART Helicopter is from Dartmouth Medical Center.....in the past, that was a Eurocopter Dauphin. (French) The US Coast Guard uses them for SAR. Not cheap.

Like Woodsy says: "You Can't Fix Stupid." NB

PS: Trouble is: There is No Law against STUPID.

[Mink Islander]

A couple of Dunkin Dumbnuts.....

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

PS: Trouble is: There is No Law against STUPID.

When we lived in Bossier City LA, we had a friend who was a city cop. He always maintained that the city needed to add one more law on the books, and he could write tickets all day long. The charge: Aggravated Ignorance.

Unfortunately, you can not legislate against stupidity.

[Little Bear]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

If the DHART Helicopter is from Dartmouth Medical Center.....in the past, that was a Eurocopter Dauphin. (French) The US Coast Guard uses them for SAR. Not cheap.

Like Woodsy says: "You Can't Fix Stupid." NB

PS: Trouble is: There is No Law against STUPID.

Here's the info on the DHART chopper. They are made in the USA by American Eurocopter. DHART operates two of these choppers: one based in Lebanon, one based in Manchester.

http://www.eurocopterusa.com/about_u...try_leader.asp

[fatlazyless]

Supposedly, the cash price as opposed to the health insurance price, for a helicopter ambulance ride in the DHART helicopter is $14,000 .........anybody have any experience with that?

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Supposedly, the cash price as opposed to the health insurance price, for a helicopter ambulance ride in the DHART helicopter is $14,000 .........anybody have any experience with that?

Yes, a fellow business owner over here on the Sunapee side of the state, broke his arm in three places while snowmobiling in Pittsburg. Because of the condition of his break, he was given the option of ambulance transportation through 3 hospitals enroute to Dartmouth or they could call in DHART. His ride in DHART 1 cost his insurance company $12,400. That was 2 years ago.

[Jonas Pilot]

I hope he enjoyed the ride. It must have been pretty exciting. The price is a lot cheaper at the Sandwich Fair though.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

I hope he enjoyed the ride. It must have been pretty exciting. The price is a lot cheaper at the Sandwich Fair though.

He did actually say it was pretty neat, though the view is non existent. It is not the kind of ride you really ever wish to tell a story about.


I would also have to think that the price his Ins Co paid was directly relative to the care he received and distance traveled. I do not think for even a minute that there is a set rate for their services.

[Sandy Island fan]

Sandy Island's Fire Brigade drills with Tuftonboro Fire Department at the start of our season (which is how my daughter ended up engaged to one of their members!). All of the men and women that we have met from the department are wonderful people, and I would hate to think that any of them - or those from the other responding departments - might have come to harm because of someone's stupidity. Accidents happen - but this was totally assinine!

[SeventySeven]

If what I hear is correct, these boneheads will be seeing the Judge in March. Cited for OUI. Currently free on bail. No law against stupidity, hence not cited for that.
It would be really special if the Judge is a regular visitor to this forum.