Two snowmobilers seriously injured in crash by Blueberry Lake

On Tuesday, February 18, at 10:05 a.m. the Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a female party that stated the snowmobile she was on crashed into a tree and she and the driver were injured.    

Courtney Sater, 27, of Mankato, Minnesota was the passenger on the sled. Mathew Udey, 41, of Golden Valley, Minnesota was the operator. 

The driver told the Cook County Sheriff’s Office that they were traveling around 30 mph when they were rounding a corner and ascending a hill; the driver realized he was carrying too much speed and went to apply the brake, but instead pressed the throttle propelling the machine off the trail and into a tree. 

Both the operator and passenger were ejected off the machine.

Both riders were transported to North Shore Health via ambulance. 

The male party was later transported via Life Link 3 to Duluth, while the female rider was transported to Duluth via ambulance.  Both parties suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. 

The accident occurred on the North Shore State Trail near Blueberry Lake.  They were riding a 2020 Ski-Doo GT900 that was rented from a local business.  

Cook County Sheriff’s Deputies, Cook County Search and Rescue, Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club Groomer, Cook County Ambulance, Grand Marais First Responders, Minnesota State Trooper, Minnesota Conservation Officers, Life Link 3, and U.S. Border Patrol Agents all assisted in the response.