Woman injured in snowmobile crash near Cotton Brook
January 23, 2023 | By Lisa ScagliottiState and local first responders were called out on Saturday, Jan. 21, for a snowmobile crash on a VAST trail at Cotton Brook near the Waterbury-Stowe town line.
State game wardens along with Stowe Rescue, Stowe Mountain Rescue, and Stowe Police were involved in the call that began just after 1 p.m.
A State Fish & Wildlife Department news release Monday said that the investigation of the crash determined that Sabrina Dimaiolo, 46, of New Jersey, was operating a snowmobile as part of a guided tour and had a juvenile passenger along on her sled.
“Dimaiolo lost control of the vehicle after hitting a water bar along Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) Trail 100a,” the account says. “The vehicle deflected off a nearby tree and collided with a second tree on the opposite side of the trail.”
Both driver and passenger were ejected from the snowmobile and collided with the second tree, officials said.
The crash happened “an unfortunate eight miles from the trailhead at Cottonbrook,” according to Stowe Mountain Rescue, referring to the trailhead and parking lot to the recreation area in Stowe. The backcountry crew using ATVs and their Rescue Boggan unit transported the riders, delivering them to the awaiting Stowe EMS ambulance by 3:30 p.m.
Dimaiolo was transported to Copley Hospital in Morristown and treated for severe but non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. The juvenile passenger was unhurt and just evaluated on site.
The snowmobile sustained heavy front-end damage and was removed from the trail by the guide service, according to the report.