Traverse City brothers in snowmobile crash; one critically injured, alcohol suspected

Deputies say a snowmobile collision between two brothers left a 60-year-old Traverse City man with a life-threatening head injury Saturday afternoon on Scharman Road near Fish Creek Road in East Bay Township. The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office reported the 60-year-old was ejected during the crash and remains in critical condition, and that alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

According to the sheriff’s office, the two riders were brothers from Traverse City and the 62-year-old made a U-turn just before the collision. Deputies described the impact as between the brothers’ two sleds; the 60-year-old’s helmet came off in the crash. Authorities have not released the men’s names.

Emergency crews from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene just before 5 p.m., deputies said. Aero Med staged a landing on Garfield Road as part of the response, although the injured man was ultimately transported to the hospital by ground ambulance. Officials have not disclosed which hospital received the patient.

Investigators from the sheriff’s office are continuing the probe into the crash; deputies have not released results of any alcohol testing, whether citations or arrests were made, or a final incident report. The sheriff’s office has also not confirmed the exact calendar date beyond describing the wreck as occurring Saturday afternoon, with initial local reporting on Feb. 16, 2026. Recordings and dispatcher logs that would fix the timeline and the road-name spelling discrepancy - some reports use Scharman Road while others spell it Scharmen Road - have not been released.

The collision comes amid a season of increased snowmobile activity and several serious crashes across the region. Emergency physician and EMS medical director Dr. Shaun Ramsey said, "High speed is the leading cause of serious injury and death in snowmobile accidents," adding that "if a snowmobile is traveling faster than 30 mph in low-visibility conditions, the driver cannot stop within their visible range." Local health systems including Munson Health have also urged caution on ice and trails as temperatures fluctuate.

With one man critically injured and questions remaining about alcohol use, the crash highlights enforcement and safety issues on popular riding corridors in East Bay Township and Grand Traverse County. The sheriff’s office is handling the investigation and has not released further information; a completed incident report is expected to clarify the exact date, road name, transport details, and any toxicology findings.