Massachusetts woman killed in snowmobile accident in New Hampshire

A series of incidents in the New Hampshire forests and mountains occurred over the weekend, including one that resulted in the death of a Massachusetts woman, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Shawnee Hollis, 39, of North Brookfield was with a group of three friends each operating their own individual snowmobiles on Primary Trail 109 in Milan late afternoon Friday when she hit a tree while trying to navigate a downhill turn, according to officials. The snowmobile she operated hit a tree approximately 13 feet off the right side of Primary Trail 109, officials said.

Fish and game officials were aided by first responders from the Berlin Police Department, Berlin EMS, Berlin Fire, Milan Fire and Rescue and Milan and Drummer Ambulance.

Multiple attempts were made to have an emergency aircraft transport  Hollis to a nearby hospital, but officials said “many circumstances” prevented that from happening. She was ultimately transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital before being transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

She was reported dead around 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, officials said.

Shantelle Sutkus, 49, of Weare was also injured from a snowmobile crash late Saturday, department officials reported. Sutkus was traveling on Corridor Trail 12 in Cambridge with a group of people when they met a dog sled team traveling in the opposite direction, officials said.

Sutkus was unable to safely slow down her snowmobile and, in an attempt to avoid hitting anyone, she slid the vehicle sideways which threw her off of the sled, officials said. Her riding companions assessed her injuries and contacted 911 for emergency assistance.

The Errol Fire Department rescue Utility Terrain Vehicle transported Sutkus down the trail where an ambulance transported her to Androscoggin Valley Hospital.

Department officials also reported three hikers rescued over the weekend, including a Portsmouth man hiking Mount Washington, officials said.

Cole Matthes, 22, fell in a ravine and called 911 for help at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, officials said. Poor reception prevented some of the information from being relayed to officials, but a variety of search and rescue teams used GPS coordinates from the call to find him.

Assistance from the Cog Railway allowed two trains, one with a snow blower on the front, to clear a path up the mountain. Matthes called later, informing officials he’d made it to the Lake in the Clouds Hut in the emergency shelter below the building.

The first group of rescuers trekked through winds north of 90 mph, a wind-chill of -52 degrees and met Matthes at the emergency shelter at 6:17 p.m. He had to be stripped of his frozen and wet clothes, ultimately leaving the hut more than three hours later.

Matthes was treated for hypothermia and frostbite at the Cog Railway base station just before 11 p.m. Multiple recommendations were made for Matthes to go to the hospital, but he refused treatment and was brought back to his vehicle at 11:38 p.m., officials said.

“Matthes called for a rescue after making all these poor choices, and putting himself in a situation that placed 11 other lives in danger in order to save his,” department officials said in a statement. “Even though the rescuers complete these heroic tasks with humility and passion there is still never ending concern as to why inexperienced solo hikers continue to push on.”

Officials also rescued Elisabeth Campbell, 26, of Somerville.

Campbell, hiking on the Welch-Dickey Trail in Waterville Valley, was found more than a mile away from the trailhead Saturday afternoon. Campbell suffered a “serious lower leg injury” and was secured in a litter to be carried down the trail, officials said.

She was taken to Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth by a hiking companion for additional treatment.

 

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