Snowmobiler dies at Little Camas

A 19-year-old airman at Mountain Home AFB was killed Friday while snowmobiling as part of a squadron "snow day" party at Little Camas Reservoir.

Walter J. Hammond IV, originally from Virginia, died as a result of injuries received when he hit a creek bed, launching him from the snowmobile and causing him to hit the handlebars with his throat and chest.

Hammond was part of a large group from the base's CES unit enjoying a day's winter outing at the Little Camas Reservoir north of Mountain Home. A neophyte to snowmobiling, Hammond had received only a few hours of instruction in how to operate a snowmobile and told to stay on the frozen lake bed of the reservoir, according to Elmore County Deputy Robin Ellis, who investigated the accident.

But after a while, Hammond began "high marking" on the hillside adjacent to the reservoir, Ellis said. Coming down off the hill Hammond struck the creek bed, causing him to be thrown more than 40 feet from the snowmobile he was riding, a 1976 Yamaha, which Ellis noted features high handlebars. He was traveling at 40-45 mph at the time of the accident.

Hammond did not appear to be seriously injured at first. "He got up and started walking" over to several other snowmobilers who had quickly responded to his accident to see if he was OK, Ellis said. He was, however, complaining of difficulty breathing and chest pain. The other snowmobilers took him to the roadside, where he collapsed.

Ellis, who was responding to the accident from Pine, had already requested that LifeFlight be launched to the scene. Hammon died during the flight to St. Alphonus Regional Medical Center.

An exact cause of death was not available at press time but Ellis said it was likely to have been the result of trauma to the chest and throat.

Ellis said the accident underscored some basic safety issues of which all new snowmobilers should be aware. New snowmobilers should spend many hours, even weeks or months, learning how to use the machines properly under the guidance of someone who has ridden for years, and they should not attempt to try special moves or tricks or venture into terrain that are beyond their skills.