Sledding hill closed after Mishawaka man's death

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY ‒ In the past week, two people have been killed and one critically injured in sledding accidents. A Fort Wayne boy is in critical condition, and 47-year old Leo Roberts of Mishawaka and an 11-year-old boy near Grand Rapids lost their lives. Following Roberts' death, there are signs of change at Bendix Woods County Park. Barricades with signs that said “hill closed” blocked access to the hill. Not too far away were a series of trees wrapped up in yellow caution tape. The hill will remain closed until further notice as officials investigate the incident that marked a deadly start to a new year. "The visual view of the staff this morning ‒ they were distraught," said Larry Catanzarite, president of the St. Joseph County Park Board. The same can be said for the family of 47-year-old Leo Roberts of Mishawaka, who died from complications caused by blood loss after he slid into a tree at Bendix Woods County Park. "Our hearts go out to the family," said Evie Kirkwood, Saint Joseph County Parks director. "All of the staff and all of the Park Board at St. Joseph County Parks send their condolences. We are very sad." When the snow falls, sledding is a common sight at city and county parks, but over the course of one week emergency response workers have joined in on the action. Serious injuries and deaths were reported around Indiana and Michigan. Grief counselors were brought in to a school near Grand Rapids on Saturday following an 11-year-old's death. Police say the child slid into a post or log while sledding at a park on New Year's Day. A 9-year-old boy near Fort Wayne remains in critical condition after sledding down a hill and into the path of an SUV. Park officials say a Ranger was on duty and responded moments after the incident was reported, but park workers did not see what happened. "One of the difficult things about this for us is we don't have a lot of information of our own," said Kirkwood. "Anytime you have a situation where a family is enjoying the parks and you have an unfortunate situation is very sad," said Kirkwood. The parks director said the hill will reopen, but could not say when. And before you hit the hills, Dr. Mark Lavallee, director of sports medicine at Memorial Hospital, said to be conscious of your sled type and the conditions on the hill. Speed and control are major reasons for serious accidents. Lavallee said it's a good idea to anticipate where you will end up.