Stearns County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous snowmobile accidents in the area this past weekend. Among them were: • 9:15 p.m. Friday, March 2, 265 Ave., north of County Road 15 in Zion Township – Denise Fischbach, 40 of Eden Valley, was riding a Polaris Indy 500 snowmobile southbound on the trail along 265 Ave. The snowmobile encountered a large depression, causing Fischbach to be thrown over the handlebars of the snowmobile. She sustained injuries to her forehead and was transported by Paynesville Ambulance to the Paynesville Hospital for medical treatment. • 11:03 p.m. Friday, March 2, Hwy. 4 near 290th St. in Spring Hill Township, 2 miles south of Greenwald – Troy L. Wendlandt, 27 of St. Augusta, was driving his snowmobile southbound along Hwy. 4 when he struck a field approach and lost control. He fell off the sled and it landed on him, causing him to suffer a broken left leg. Wendlandt was treated at the scene by Melrose Fire Department Rescue Squad and Melrose Ambulance Service and transported to Paynesville Hospital by Melrose Ambulance. He was later transported to St. Cloud Hospital by Paynesville Ambulance. • 3:27 p.m. Saturday, March 3, County Road 23 northwest of Richmond – Andrew P. Koltes, 21 of St. Cloud, was driving his 2002 Polaris snowmobile westbound on the north side of County Road 23 when he struck a field approach and was thrown from his sled. The snowmobile behind Koltes was able to avoid striking him, however, a third sled in line – a 1999 Polaris driven by Matthew J. Decker, 21 of Cold Spring – was unable to avoid him. Koltes was struck on the left leg, just above the knee, by the ski and hood of Decker’s sled. Koltes was treated at the scene and transported to the St. Cloud Hospital by Paynesville Ambulance for further treatment. Richmond Rescue Squad also responded to the call. • 6:25 p.m. Saturday, March 3, Apache Lane near the interesection of County Road 2 in St. Wendel Township – Bradley B. Geers, 16 of St. Joseph, attempted to jump a snow pile at the end of a driveway, fell off the sled and had it land on his leg. Geers was driving a red 2001 Polaris 500XCSP. He was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital by Gold Cross Ambulance with a possible broken leg. The sheriff’s office was assisted by St. Joseph Fire Department and St. Joseph Police Department. All accidents are under investigation by the sheriff’s department.
