Deerfield, NY – A snowmobile rider was injured Friday afternoon after crashing on a popular trail in Oneida County, prompting a multi-agency emergency response and a safety warning for local snowmobilers.
According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 1:15 p.m. Friday, January 17, 2026, to a personal injury snowmobile accident on the C7C trail off Brayton Road in the Town of Deerfield, Oneida County. Authorities say the rider struck a hidden drainage ditch that had opened due to recent warm weather conditions.
When first responders arrived, the snowmobile was located off the trail. Fire crews from the Deerfield and Newport Fire Departments transported the rider back to the roadway, where he was turned over to Kuyahoora Valley Ambulance. The rider was then taken to Wynn Hospital for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Investigators determined that a drainage ditch crossing the trail had opened up as temperatures warmed, creating a hazard that was difficult for riders to see while traveling at speed. The local snowmobile club was notified so the hazard could be addressed and riders alerted.
No tickets were issued in connection with the crash.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, Deerfield and Newport Fire Departments, Kuyahoora Valley Ambulance, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Recreation Unit.
Officials are reminding snowmobilers across Central New York to use extra caution during periods of fluctuating winter temperatures, as trail conditions can change rapidly and become dangerous without warning.
Have you ridden the C7C trail recently? Did you notice changing conditions? Share your experience to help keep others safe.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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