(HURON EAST, ON) – A 46 year old male went for an unexpected swim in the chilly Maitland River this past Saturday. Shortly after 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2013 Huron County OPP officers and Huron County Paramedics were dispatched to attend the banks of the Maitland River located in Brussels at McCutcheon Drive. Police learned a 46 year old snowmobiler attempted to catch up with his fellow snowmobile friends by taking a dangerous shortcut across the Maitland River. The driver attempted to puddle jump” a section of open water about 50 metres in width. His 2011 Yamaha RX1 snowmobile made it half way across the water when it began to take on water and sank. The driver managed to swim back to shore; he was not injured. The snow machine was to be recovered today.
The 46 year old driver from Elora was charged with Careless Driving contrary to section 15 of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act.”