Alcohol use and speed are “possible” factors in a fatal collision Sunday night between a snowmobile and an ATV on the Fond du Lac River, officials say.
Mark Plonsky, 44, of Fond du Lac, was killed in the head-on crash, according to the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner’s office.
Alcohol, excessive speed and operating the vehicles at night are possible factors in the crash, said Jeremy Cords, recreational conservation warden in Green Bay.
The crash occurred at 6 p.m. on the Fond du Lac River between Sibley Street and West Arndt Street, according to the DNR.
Plonsky and another man were riding snowmobiles northbound on the river when Plonsky and a 34-year-old ATV driver collided head-on, ejecting both men from the vehicles, said Cords.
“The second snowmobile continued northbound onto Lake Winnebago until he realized his partner was not with him,” Cords said.
Plonsky was pronounced dead at St. Agnes Hospital about 9:55 p.m. Sunday, according to the ME’s office.
Firefighters used an ATV to remove one person from the ice to an ambulance, according to the Fond du Lac Fire Department.
The 34-year-old was injured and transported to St. Agnes Hospital.
Cords declined to release the ATV operator’s name because the crash is under investigation.
DNR Wardens Alan Erickson and Kyle Kosin are investigating the crash.
Cords said he did not know if both men were wearing helmets or using headlights.
“Operating a vehicle after drinking greatly reduces your ability to make decisions and react to situations like this (Sunday’s crash),” Cords said. “Your distance judgment is altered. You might even get confused as to which hand is the throttle and which is the brake.”
Cords added that operating an ATV or snowmobile at night is dangerous.
“If you are operating faster than 45 mph, we determined you are pretty much overriding your headlights,” Cords said. “You can’t see, read or react to make a stop.”
