A snowmobiler was airlifted to a Calgary hospital in critical condition on Monday morning after being alone and injured for some time following a crash just southeast of Caroline.
STARS air ambulance spokesman Cam Heke said it’s believed the 33-year-old man, now at the Foothills Medical Centre, may have been out in the bush since the night before after crashing his snowmobile into some trees.
Rocky Mountain House RCMP, Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services, Sundre and District Emergency Medical Services and Clearwater County Highway Patrol were called to the scene at about 7:30 a.m.
Rocky RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Shawna Lozinski said a passerby first alerted emergency responders after coming across the crash site at a T intersection near Caroline.
Police believe that the snowmobiler was westbound on a township road that came to a dead end and he continued west across the T intersection and into the trees.
The man wasn’t wearing a helmet, said police.
Lozinski said they’re not sure how long the man had been lying there.
The Caroline area resident hadn’t been reported missing, she added.
Police are waiting to talk to the man, Lozinski said.
Heke said that STARS was called to respond at about 8:30 a.m.
They landed on the road at Hwy 54 and Range Road 52. When the medical team arrived, they found that firefighters and the other emergency responders were working hard at rescuing the man, who was found down an embankment.
“He was in critical condition en route to hospital after he had sustained life-threatening injuries from the snowmobile accident,” said Heke. “We understand he was discovered by a passerby who saw tracks leading off the roadway.”
Heke said the man sustained life-threatening injuries but no other specifics were provided.
RCMP continue to investigate.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com