Authorities urge snowmobilers to exercise caution, especially when alone

Authorities are urging snowmobilers to use caution on Quebec trails after a number of deaths. (Lisa Rathke / The Associated Press)

In the wake of several recent fatal collisions, the Quebec provincial police (SQ) is urging snowmobilers to exercise caution at the start of 2025.

Most of the victims were snowmobilers who lost control of their sleds when they were alone.

In the last two weeks, the SQ has recorded six deaths of snowmobilers in three administrative regions: Outaouais, Mauricie and Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

The most recent incident occurred on Thursday, when a 71-year-old man lost control of his snowmobile and crashed into a tree in the Zec du Gros-Brochet, in the Haute-Mauricie region. He was found unconscious by a passerby several hours after the collision and died of his injuries in hospital.

According to SQ spokesperson Sgt. Éloïse Cossette, a common element in the various recent incidents is that the snowmobilers were alone when they lost control.

“In all cases, a single snowmobile lost control. You often end up going off the trail, hitting a tree, and then there are serious injuries and deaths,” Cossette said. “We invite people who practice these off-road sports to be extra cautious, because the winter season is starting with a number of deaths that have occurred in this way.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 3, 2025.