Monday, February 1, 2010

Police: Man crushes brother’s leg with snowmobile

By Owen Boss
Staff Writer

BELCHERTOWN
— A suspected drunken driver lost control of his snowmobile Sunday afternoon during a fishing derby on Lake Metacomet and struck his brother while he fished, sending him to the hospital with a shattered right leg, police said.

Richard E. Giverson, 35, whose address was listed as 9.5 Metacomet Road, Belchertown, pleaded innocent Monday morning in Eastern Hampshire District Court to charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, resulting in serious injury, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

On Sunday at 4:20 p.m., while racing his unregistered snowmobile across the frozen surface of Lake Metacomet, Giverson reportedly struck his brother, Adam Giverson, 31, while he was participating in a Tri-Lake Association- sponsored fishing derby, according to court documents.

Police said that Giverson said he tried to stop the snowmobile as he approached a large group of people but couldn’t.

Following the accident, Giverson reportedly admitted to drinking several beers before driving and failed several field sobriety tests that he agreed to take, police said. The state Environmental Police, who helped with the investigation, took custody of Giverson’s snowmobile so they could test it for any mechanical problems, police said.

Adam Giverson was in good condition at Baystate Medical Center Monday, according to a hospital spokesman. Judge William Hadley scheduled Giverson to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on Thursday.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com

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