At approximately 4:50 p.m., responders were dispatched to the area near the 400 block of Lane 210 in Hamilton, near Hamilton Lake.
Hayden V. Rice, 28, of Fort Wayne was operating his snowmobile on the snow and ice on Hamilton Lake at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a turn. Rice was ejected from the snowmobile and struck a metal dock post.
Rice was flown by Parkview Samaritan and then to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne in critical condition with multiple broken bones and internal injuries.
Rice was not wearing a helmet or any other protective riding gear at the time of the accident. The investigation is still ongoing.
Conservation Officers were assisted on scene by the Hamilton Fire Department, Hamilton Police Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, Steuben County EMS, and Parkview Samaritan.
Conservation Officers would like to remind everyone to always wear a helmet and protective riding gear when operating a snowmobile and never operate at unsafe speeds. For information on snowmobile and off-road vehicle laws and safe operating procedures, please visit https://www.offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/ and https://www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/4431.htm.