Noble County man injured after snowmobile strikes small tree

AVILLA, Ind. (WANE) - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is investigating a snowmobile accident that sent an Avilla man to the hospital.

Indiana Conservation Officer Andrew Harmon says Christopher W. Hackman, 57, was working on his snowmobile in his garage around 11:00 AM Thursday.  Hackman was sitting on his snowmobile, but when he went to start it, the throttle stuck open.  This caused the snowmobile to take off out of the garage, heading about 100 yards to the northeast before striking a small tree head on.

Hackman was thrown from the snowmobile.  He had to be treated on the scene by Noble County EMS for a leg injury, and was then transported by ambulance to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne for further treatment.