Snowmobile owner hits mailbox on test drive

11/9/2006

A Lake Township man eager to test his new snowmobile even though there s yet to be an accumulation of snow this season was hurt Tuesday when he drove his snow vehicle off Pemberville Road north of Hanley Road and hit a mailbox, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Ronald S. Schmidt, 40, was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he was in fair condition last night.

Mr. Schmidt, who bought the 2006 high-powered Yamaha snowmobile for $10,000 two weeks ago, told troopers from the patrol s Walbridge post that he wanted to try it out. He took it out on the roadway, which was wet from a recent rain, and drove northbound on Pemberville. He was near his home when the snowmobile went off the east side of the road and hit the mailbox, troopers said.

Mr. Schmidt, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the vehicle and suffered a head injury, troopers said.