ONTONAGON — For third time in the new year, a snowmobile fatality has occurred in the Western Upper Peninsula. The latest occurred shortly before one O’clock Friday afternoon in Ontonagon County.

According to a release from the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched to a personal injury accident on Trail No. 3, known as the Bill Nichols Trail, near the Houghton County line. When deputies arrived they found the driver of the snowmobile, a 44-year-old man from Greenleaf, Wisconsin, was dead at the scene.

Deputies believe speed was a contributing factor in the fatal crash.

The incident marks the third snowmobile related fatality in the area in the past two weeks.

All three victims were from Wisconsin.