Deadly Snowmobile Crash Along North Shore

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a 22-year-old man is dead after he was thrown from his snowmobile while riding in northeastern Minnesota.

The victim is identified as Wayne Gunnar Anderson of Grand Marais. WDIO-TV  reports authorities were called around 5:30 p.m. Saturday and took Anderson to a hospital where he later died.

The Cook County Sheriff's Department says Anderson and a friend were riding on separate snowmobiles along a ditch north of Grand Marais.

A preliminary investigation found the riders encountered deep crevices in the snow from a creek bed and were both thrown from their snowmobiles.

An autopsy is pending, and officials believe Anderson suffered a broken neck on impact. He was then struck by the second snowmobile, but no additional injuries were noted.

Officials say alcohol was not a factor.