Freedom Rock damaged in snowmobile accident

Coulter's Freedom Rock sustained some damage in late January after a presumed collision with a snowmobile.

Though it's unknown when exactly the accident happened, the damage was reported on Monday, January 31 after being discovered.

"By the tracks you can tell it was a snowmobile," said Deputy Josh Einspahr, who is investigating the accident.

Einspahr is asking that anybody that has information about the incident call the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

"Snowmobiles aren't supposed to be driving through the parks within Coulter at all," said Einspahr. "Which would include that Freedom Rock park at the north end of town."

The accident was an unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected event as the city has struggled to keep visiting snowmobilers on the appropriate routes.

"I knew that kind of thing was going to happen," said Myron Lawler, who serves as a member of Coulter's city council. "The long and short of it is that every year, when they come off Highway 3, they cut that corner."

Lawler has reached out to local snowmobile groups to ask them to make sure they avoid the park on their way into town, but clearly not everybody has gotten the message.

"We love to have them come to town. We love to have them stop," said Lawler. "But you've gotta be a little more careful."

Lawler said that the rock had been pushed over from the impact and that the plaques and service medallions glued to it were broken off. Fortunately, he believes that no permanent damage was done. The rock can be moved back into place and the plaques will be polished and re-glued when spring comes.

"Everything is fixable," said Lawler.

Lawler says that he understands that accidents happen, but is disappointed that the responsible party didn't come forward.

"The sad part is that they didn't come in and tell somebody," said Lawler.

In the meantime, the city will look into placing additional signage and possibly some decorative fencing to make it abundantly clear to snowmobilers that the park is not a shortcut.

"We'll try to do something to make it pretty obvious that they can't be there," said Lawler.