Snowmobiler injured in crash in Lutsen

A Thunder Bay snowmobiler was injured when he lost control on a trail near Barker Lake Road in Lutsen.
 
Gordon Allen, 57 years old, was riding with nine other snowmobilers from Thunder Bay on the North Shore State Trail around 5 p.m. Saturday, February 3. He was the only person on the sled, and was the second machine from the front of the pack, heading east on the trail. Approximately a mile and a half west of the Barker Lake Road, Allen lost control of his Arctic Cat snowmobile, left the trail and hit a tree.
 
There were no witnesses to the crash. Allen experienced a head injury and could not tell responders how the crash happened.
 
A companion on the first sled said he was driving 35-40 miles per hour and checking periodically that Allen was still behind him.  He looked back at one point and didn't see Allen, so he circled back and discovered he had hit a tree.
 
Allen was transported to hospital. The extent of Allen’s injuries is unknown.
 
The Cook County Sheriff's Office says the crash was not alcohol related and no citations were issued.