A snowmobiler died Wednesday morning when his sled jumped onto a Wadena County highway and was struck by a car.

Jesse S. Jones, 46, of Menahga, was driving his snowmobile south in the ditch along Hwy. 71 at 350th Street, in Blueberry Township, just after 7 a.m. when he tried to climb out of the ditch to get onto the road’s shoulder, according to State Patrol. Instead, the snowmobile jumped into the northbound traffic lane and was struck by a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville driven by Andrew Vaverek, 30, of Browerville.

Jones died at the scene.

He was wearing a helmet, Vaverek was wearing a seat belt, and alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor, the patrol said. Vaverek was not hurt.

Roads were dry at the time, the patrol said.

STAFF REPORT