Fifth snowmobile fatal crash in a month in the Upper Peninsula claims life of Saginaw man

U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 1-17-18 11:45 a.m. ET

Blood on the Trails: Five people killed in a month on Upper Peninsula snowmobile trails – the latest a Saginaw, MI man

By Greg Peterson
Upper Peninsula Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Eckermann, MI) – A Saginaw, MI man on Tuesday afternoon became the fifth person to die in an Upper Peninsula snowmobile accident this winter – and in just over a month.

The crash was reported in Northwest Chippewa County about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018.

The wreck happened on Trail Number 8 between M-123 and W. Curley Lewis Memorial Highway – just south of Paradise, MI – not far from the Silver Creek Grill and Pub in Eckermann, MI.

Among those assisting on the scene were Whitefish Township EMS, Whitefish Township Fire, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department.

The victim – a 51-year-old Saginaw man – lost control in a curve and struck a tree along the trail. He was traveling with a group of other snowmobilers when the crash occurred.

CPR was performed by emergency officials, however the victim was dead on arrival at the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital in Newberry, MI. Trail Number 8 is the main snowmobile trail that stretches across the Upper Peninsula.

The DNR and other law enforcement is reminding sledders to slow down and drive safely in the wake of five snowmobile fatalities in the U.P. in only a month. High speed and lack of familiarity with trails that often have rapidly changing conditions especially during storms.

Many riders lose control in curves they do not expect while traveling too fast – and hit trees or other objects

https://upperpeninsulabreakingnews.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/tragedy-on-the-trails-terrible-snowmobile-crash-reported-in-chippewa-county-mi

https://upperpeninsulabreakingnews.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/fiery-early-monday-morning-snowmobile-crash-sends-sledder-to-ironwood-mi-hospital-with-serious-injuries-funerals-held-this-weekend-and-one-planned-this-week-for-three-of-the-four-people-killed-in-u

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Snowmobile Fatalities 2017-2018 winter:
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Wed., Jan. 10, 2018 – southern Houghton County, MI

Jamie Travis Steen

41-year-old Jamie Travis Steen of rural Curtiss, Wisconsin
Killed after losing control of sled on a curve on Trail 8 and hit a tree in remote Houghton County – off M-28
Factors include speed

Steen was married and the father of four daughters
He was in the construction business all his lifr and owned SJS Excavating, a sewer and sewer line construction company in Curtiss, WI.
A memorial service will be held this Wed., Jan. 17, 2018.

http://maurinaschilling.com/lifestory/clouds/home.html?Year=2018&Month=1&Day=10&FirstName=Jamie&LastName=Steen

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Sat., Dec. 30, 2017 – Gogebic County, MI

Randy Alan Liddicoat

52-year-old Randy Alan Liddicoat of Evansville, Wisconsin
Victim was trying to cross U.S.-2 at Ramsay crossing about 1 p.m. in Gogebic County – struck by an eastbound pickup truck.
Factors include low visibility/snowy conditions

Liddicoat loved snowmobiling and attending Wisconsin Badger football games with his two sons. Liddicoat was active in fishing, golf, Midget and Sprint car racing, and other sports including still holding high school cross country records. He loved his two dogs (Olive and Henry) and enjoyed relaxing with family and friends.

A farmer in his younger years, Liddicoat worked at Covance Laboratories and Millwork Specialists of Wisconsin in Madison. He was a co-owner of Liddicoat Lawncare Services LLC with his sons Brett and Blake. A memorial service was held on Sat., Jan. 13, 2018.

http://www.wardhurtley.com/obituaries/Randy-Alan-Liddicoat?obId=2853600#/obituaryInfo

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Fri., Dec. 29, 2017 – Gogebic County, MI

Michele Marie ‘Shelly’ Megard

51-year-old Michele Marie “Shelly” Megard of Hudson, Wisconsin
Riding with other sledders in a group on an unplowed right of way on Powerhorn Road – north of U.S.-2 in Bessemer Township, MI.
Victim lost control of her machine about 11:30 a.m., overturned in ditch and was run over by another snowmobile.
Factors include visibility/snowy weather

Visitation and a celebration of life was held Sat., Jan. 13, 2018.

http://www.lakesidememorialchapel.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4507135&fh_id=12415

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Sun., Dec. 17, 2017 – Alger County, MI

Jason Craig Bashor

34-year-old Jason Craig Bashor of Pocomoke City, Maryland

Shaena Leigh Hicks

A friend and co-worker in meteorology – 34-year-old Shaena Leigh Hicks of Greenbackville, Virginia suffered serious injuries in the crash.

Both were on travel assignment in the U.P. Hicks is a meteorologist at Orbital ATK in Virginia – a company that does work in military satellites, space travel, missiles and defense systems. Hicks, a married mother of two, is a native of Roanoke, VA.

The pair was traveling together in separate snowmobiles – lost control on Trail #8 curve, left the trail, struck multiple trees- about a mile west of M-94 in Shingleton, MI.

Factors include excessive speed and operational inexperience.

Jason Craig Bashor

A father of two, Bashor served in the Navy from 2002 until 2012.

Bashor was currently an Electrical Tech 3 working as a Senior Ground Validation Systems Technician for A.S.R.C. Fed. Space and Defense (AS&D) at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, VA

Bashor was on a travel assignment in Michigan.

Funeral services were held on Sat., Dec. 23, 2017 in Pocomoke City, MD.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/delmarvanow/obituary.aspx?pid=187577174

https://upperpeninsulabreakingnews.wordpress.com/2017/12/17/fatal-sunday-snowmobile-crash-in-alger-county-mi-one-of-several-upper-peninsula-snowmobile-accidents-this-weekend/
https://www.orbitalatk.com/
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter
http://asrcfederal.com/news/asrc-federal-space-and-defense-selected-nasa-wallops-engineering-contract
http://wrkr.com/keweenaw-rocket-range/

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U.P. Snowmobile info

http://www.upsnowmobiling.com/trail-maps

http://www.uptravel.com/snowmobile-trail-report-54/

Snowmobile Trail Report

Western Upper Peninsula – By County

Central Upper Peninsula – By County

Eastern Upper Peninsula – By County

Jason Craig Bashor

Michele Marie ‘Shelly’ Megard

Randy Alan Liddicoat

Jamie Steen