Cross-Country Skier Found Dead On Ice

The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a skier found on the ice in Chequamegon Bay this morning.

The body of a young man was discovered by a snowmobiler early Sunday morning adjacent to an ice trail between Washburn and Ashland. The trail was designated for the “Book Across the Bay” ski race on Saturday evening. Bayfield County Sheriff’s Investigators believe the deceased left Washburn sometime after the race ended and was skiing to Ashland. There was substantial evidence collected near the body to indicate the man was struck by a vehicle traveling on the ice trail toward Ashland.

The skier is believed to have traveled the Book Across the Bay route Saturday evening but did not actually take part in the race. The race begins in Ashland and ends in Washburn. He remained in Washburn until race festivities ended and planned to ski back to Ashland via the race route.

On Sunday afternoon an Ashland man reported in person with his father to the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office identifying himself as the suspect vehicle driver. He has been cooperating with the investigation. There was also a passenger in the vehicle who witnessed the event. The vehicle involved in this incident is being processed for evidence.

The name of the deceased skier will be released as soon as proper notifications are made to next of kin. He is not from the local area but had been a recent Northland College student.