Amanda Vaughan
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 9, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - A 14-year-old girl had to be cut from the track of the snowmobile she was riding after an accident Sunday afternoon.

Deputy fire chief Merlin Klassen said that the fire department responded to a report of a snowmobile accident just before 3 pm. He said the girl was travelling as a passenger on a snowmachine driven by another person on Rat Lake.

The riders told emergency personnel that they hit a bump, causing the girl to begin to fall off. According to Klassen, as she fell, her leg got stuck in the track of the snowmobile and she was unable to get it out.

He said crews arrived with two snowmobiles and a rescue toboggan, and the crew had to cut both the track and the belt off the snowmobile to free the girl.

"She was treated on the scene and then transported to Stanton Hospital," said Klassen, noting that the girl escaped with "minor injuries."

He said it took emergency crews about half an hour to cut the girl loose after they arrived.

Doug Gillard, manager of municipal enforcement, said the snowmobile was being driven by a 13-year-old boy.

He said there were no witnesses to the incident, and that the pair told officers they were only going 30 km/h when the girl fell.