Snowmobiler killed in Vilas County

A snowmobiler was killed Saturday evening in the township of Plum Lake.

According to the Vilas County sheriff’s office, a call was received at approximately 7:04 p.m. Saturday reporting a snowmobile had struck a tree along the shoreline of Star Lake near Rearing Pond Road in the township of Plum Lake.

 “First responders arrived on scene and transported the individual to a helicopter landing zone staging area,” sheriff’s officials said in a press release. “Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and the snowmobiler was pronounced deceased prior to further transport to a hospital.”

The snowmobiler was later identified as Catherine Werwinski, 58, of McFarland.

According to the Department of Natural Resources’ snowmobile fatality database, Werwinski was in a group of four snowmobiles traveling across Star Lake at a high rate of speed. (She) passed several other sleds in the group to take the lead (and) was then observed (missing) the boat landing exit before crashing into the tree.

The accident remains under investigation by the DNR.