Two Grand Portage residents were seriously injured on Saturday, February 26 when the snowmobile they were riding went off the trail and crashed into a tree on a trail near Nor’wester Lodge on the Gunflint Trail. Michael Hendrickson, 41, and Jacquelyn Jackson, 50, were riding a 1995 Arctic Cat EXT owned by Steven MacDonald of Grand Marais when the accident occurred. A female snowmobiler reported the accident to staff at Windigo Lodge who made the 911 call at 2:17 p.m.
A Cook County Sheriff Deputy was directed to Windigo Lodge and was taken to the accident scene by snowmobile. The accident took place about 300 yards from Nor’wester, so a staging area was set up for Gunflint Trail First Responders and Ambulance at the resort parking lot.
Both parties were seriously injured. The initial report was that Hendrickson suffered head and leg injuries. Jackson suffered hip and leg injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to Cook County North Shore Hospital and then life-flighted to a Duluth hospital. They are both in serious condition.
The snowmobile suffered only minor damage, a bent right ski and hood guard.
Neither party was wearing a helmet. The accident is under investigation.
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