JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) -- A Beloit man died has after his snowmobile went into open water on Lake Koshkonong, one of at least two snowmobile fatalities in Wisconsin this weekend.
The Rock County Sheriff's Office says 47-year-old Willie A. Guzman died after his snowmobile went into the water early Saturday.
His riding companion also went into the lake, but he was able get out and walked to shore to seek help. He told authorities they became disoriented because of darkness and fog.
The Department of Natural Resources says another fatal accident happened Saturday near Mercer in Iron County of northern Wisconsin.
One snowmobiler crested a hill on a public trail and landed on top of an oncoming snowmobiler.
The deaths raise the number of snowmobile fatalities in Wisconsin this season to 18.
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JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) -- A Beloit man died has after his snowmobile went into open water on Lake Koshkonong in southeastern Wisconsin.
The Rock County Sheriff's Office says the accident was reported shortly before 1:30 a.m. Saturday. A resident on shore reported hearing someone yelling for help. As crews responded, a snowmobiler walked into a tavern and said he'd gone into the water and walked to shore, and that his riding partner was missing.
An airboat crew found 47-year-old Willie A. Guzman in the water about 300 to 400 yards offshore. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital.
His riding partner, 46-year-old Lewis Masterson, of Beloit, told authorities they became disoriented on the lake because of darkness and fog, then hit open water.
The sheriff's office says it appears alcohol was not a factor.
