Learn from someone who wore no helmet

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Take a lesson from William Legare of Massachusetts: Always -- ALWAYS -- wear a helmet when riding a snowmobile.

Legare, 56, was not wearing one Monday afternoon when he rolled his snowmobile several times on a wind-swept field in Bradford in Penobscot County.

He suffered a brain injury, according to a spokeswoman at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where Legare was taken after the accident.

Wardens say Legare was riding with three boys, all 15 or younger and wearing helmets. (Maine law requires that snowmobile riders or passengers younger than 18 wear protective headgear.)

The riders had just crossed a road when one of the boys stopped his snowmobile abruptly and was rear-ended by another. The accident caused no injuries but broke a taillight on the first sled.

The boys, who included Legare's grandson, told wardens that after the accident, Legare jumped onto his snowmobile and accelerated quickly. He headed onto a field that had many bare patches and icy spots.

Witnesses said Legare did not get far before hitting ice, which caused his snowmobile to spin and then roll three or four times.

One of the younger riders immediately went for help, but crashed his snowmobile into trees. Uninjured, he eventually headed to a nearby convenience store and called for help.

A day of snowmobiling for these four riders saw at least two accidents, one that resulted in a critical head injury.

While nothing is guaranteed, Legare could have significantly reduced his chances of being hurt badly by wearing a helmet.

We hope he makes a full recovery.

We also hope that word of his tragic injury spreads to everyone who even thinks about getting on a snowmobile without a helmet.