Fairfax Woman Killed In Sierra Snowmobile Accident

FAIRFAX (CBS SF) - A Fairfax woman died in a snowmobile accident in Sierra County on Sunday, according to the Sierra County Sheriff-Coroner's Office.

The victim has been identified as 64-year-old Kathleen McCaffrey, California Highway Patrol Officer Heather Blancarte said.

McCaffrey was riding a snowmobile on Old Boat Road south of Gold Lake Highway, near Gold Lake, when she veered to the left off the groomed path and went down an embankment around 3 p.m., Blancarte said.

The snowmobile overturned, pinning McCaffrey beneath it, Blancarte said.

McCaffrey's husband went looking for her and found her about an hour later, Blancarte said. McCaffrey was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident happened near the Plumas County line about 40 feet from the entrance to the day use area of Gold Lake, near the town of Sierra, Sierra County Sheriff-Coroner John I. Evans said in a news release.

Two citizens were performing CPR when emergency responders arrived, Evans said.

Evans said McCaffrey has a summer home in Sierra City.

The CHP in Grass Valley is investigating the accident. Blancarte said foul play is not suspected.

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