Snowmobile, ice fishing accidents claim 2 Quebec men

Two men are dead in Quebec following separate outdoor incidents this weekend.

Harold Tremblay, 58, disappeared Friday night after he went ice fishing in Baie-Comeau, Que.

He was found dead by Sûreté du Québec divers in the Manicouagan River on Sunday morning after authorities searched the area by helicopter and snowmobile on Saturday.

“I think what happened is that it was a rough terrain and he slipped and fell into the water. The hypothermic shock must have been terrible,” said Donald Dionne, a diver for the SQ.

Dionne said divers found Tremblay's backpack first, then recovered his body about 45 minutes later. He said it seemed Tremblay's death was completely accidental.

Snowmobile accident

Another man, this time in the Lanaudière region, died of his injuries late Saturday after crashing his snowmobile into another vehicle.

The incident happened in St-Thomas, near Joliette, around 11:40 a.m. ET Saturday. According to the SQ, the man was travelling on a designated snowmobile trail.

He was hit by a car while trying to cross rural road Brûlé. The 41-year-old snowmobiler was transported to hospital, where he died.

The SQ is investigating the cause of death.

According to Quebec’s automobile insurance board, people who drive snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles are not covered by the Automobile Insurance Act and are therefore not able to claim compensation if someone gets injured.

SQ patrolling snowmobile trails

Provincial police officers are out in force this weekend as part of an operation aimed at promoting safety on popular snowmobile trails in the province.

The police partnered with the Quebec federation of snowmobile clubs’ open house this weekend as part of Operation Catalyseur. Officers have been looking for people who are breaking the law, particularly people who are speeding and snowmobiling while under the influence.