Snowmobiler dies in tragic accident

A California man visiting his family in the area was killed in a snowmobile accident last Thursday in the mountains above Mountain Home.

The Elmore County Sheriff's Office received a call from the man's son about 5:45 p.m. last Thursday reporting a snowmobile rider had been injured on the Lester Creek Road, about 12 miles southwest of Pine.

The initial report indicated that Michael W. Barrett, 54, of Shingle Springs, Calif., had broken his back, after going off Lester Creek Road and hitting some trees.

His son, Michael W. Barrett II, had driven to the Hayhurst Bed and Breakfast south of Pine to report the accident and request help. A number of other riders then went back to the scene to help, along with EMTs from the Pine/Featherville area, but upon arriving at the accident location found the elder Barrett had died.

The official cause of death has still not been determined and the incident remains under investigation. Barrett had been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. His body was transported back to Pine by rescue sled.