SYRACUSE - A Syracuse man is in stable condition after his snowmobile hit a mound of snow on Syracuse Lake.
According to Indiana Conservation Officer Ashlee Jackson, Gale Baumgartner, of 1206 Shore Lane, Syracuse, was operating his snowmobile westbound on the north end of Syracuse Lake at around 11:20 p.m. Thursday, when he apparently hit a snow mound. The force of the impact threw Baumgartner from the sled and caused the sled to roll about 30 yards before coming to rest.
Baumgartner transported to Kosciusko County Hospital with a possible broken vertebra and possible fractures to both legs.
He was later transferred to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital where he was listed in stable condition as of Friday afternoon.
According to the county DNR office, Baumgartner was wearing a helmet. Speed, ice conditions and alcohol appear to be factors in this accident.
Syracuse Fire and Police departments were at the scene.
