Jan 25, 2008 11:18 am US/Central
Randy Salerno Lost His Life On Long-Planned Trip
Accident Happened While Returning From Dinner With Friend On Snowmobile
EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (CBS) ―
The accident that took Randy Salerno's life happened on a winter weekend trip that he and several longtime friends had been planning for some time.
It would not include golf, which was Randy's warm weather obsession, but it would include roaring through the woods of northern Wisconsin on snowmobiles.
The group flew from Chicago on Thursday in a private plane, piloted by one of Randy's friends. They landed in far northern Wisconsin and checked into a resort in the Eagle River area, about an hour north of Wausau.
The group was returning from dinner late Thursday night on snowmobiles. After one of them broke down, Randy and a friend doubled up.
They were riding together on a 2007 model Ski-Doo, designed for just one rider. They apparently lost the trail and headed across Plum Lake.
"It was reported that a snowmobile had gone across the lake and hit trees on the opposite side of the lake," said Vilas County, Wis., Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Joe Fath. "The snowmobile was being ridden by two people. The passenger of the snowmobile was pronounced dead due to his injuries. Alcohol and speed played a role in this accident."
Randy Salerno apparently died instantly of blunt force trauma after slamming into the tree. His lifelong friend Scott Hirschey was injured and is in a Wisconsin hospital.
The extent of Hirschey's injuries is not known. He has been cited for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated and may be charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
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