A 34-year-old Milwaukee man was fatally ejected from his snowmobile after a crash in Morris, Illinois. The incident, which occurred on a trail in Grundy County, took place around 8:40 p.m. last Saturday. According to NBC Chicago, the victim was identified as Cody C. Woitekaitis. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the accident by the Grundy County Coroner's Office.
Reports indicate Woitekaitis was traveling eastbound along the I&M Canal, and upon approaching the viaduct crossing at Nettle Creek, he "failed to negotiate the trail," causing him to collide with a sign. The force of the impact subsequently ejected him, and he then struck the concrete structure of the viaduct, authorities said. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, along with the coroner's office, is currently investigating the crash.
CBS News Chicago reported that after striking the sign, Woitekaitis was thrown from the snowmobile before hitting the concrete viaduct. The coroner's office verified the timing of the crash and pronounced Woitekaitis dead at 9:28 p.m.
The tragic event has underlined the inherent risks of snowmobiling, especially at night. While details of the crash are still emerging, the incident remains under joint investigation by the Grundy County Coroner's Office and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. As of now, no additional information about the crash or its circumstances has been made available to the public.
