TOWN OF NEWARK — With one major snowstorm in the books, the area saw one of its first major snowmobile-related crashes last Wednesday.

The crash was reported just before 12:40 P.M., in the 6700 block of S County Highway H, in the town of Newark. 

“Initial investigation indicated a 16-year-old was operating a snowmobile on private property with permission,” said a statement from Rock County Sheriff’s Sergeant David Rossmiller. “The operator was ejected from the snowmobile which resulted in serious injuries, subject was transported to a local area hospital for medical treatment.”

A number of area departments —including Orfordville Fire Department and Beloit Fire Department — responded to the crash.

A Department of Natural Resources Warden was called to the scene. The crash remains under investigation. 

According to the DNR, “excessive speed, alcohol use and inexperience contribute to snowmobile crashes,” although its unclear if any of those was a factor in the Rock County crash. In 2022, 10 people died on snowmobiles in Wisconsin, the agency said.