New York State Police at Sidney responded to a report Friday of a fatal snowmobile accident on Chipmunk Hollow Road in the Town of Walton, Delaware County. It is believed that Jeffrey M. Benson, 46, of Walton, NY, succumbed to hypothermia/cardiac arrest after he and his sled went through ice.
An investigation revealed that Benson and a friend were riding on snowmobiles across a pond at approximately 6:15 p.m. Friday when the friend observed Benson and his snowmobile in the pond. The friend told troopers he had heard the ice crack and went back in an attempt to assist Benson out of the pond. The friend also told troopers that once Benson went unresponsive, he rode his snowmobile to the nearest residence to call 911.
Benson was located up to his neck in water and was pulled out of the pond by members from Walton Fire and EMS. When troopers arrived, he was out of the water and deceased.
No foul play was observed.
