Ottawa firefighter killed in snowmobile crash near Vars

CTV Ottawa: Death on snowmobile trails CTV's Eric Longley on the tragedy near Vars. An off-duty firefighter was killed in a crash on a groomed, open trail.

One man is dead and another has suffered serious injuries after a head-on crash between two snowmobiles in the Vars area.

Paramedics were called the scene on a trail off of Forced Rd., near Russell Rd., around 11:50 a.m. Thursday morning.

They declared one man who had suffered critical injuries dead at the scene.

CTV has learned the victim was off-duty firefighter Shawn Mathieson with Ottawa Fire Services. He was a father of two.

Ottawa Fire crews were first on the scene, and immediately initiated CPR on the two patients. They deployed specialized snowmobile equipment to help reach the crash site and transfer the patients if necessary. The scene was also prepared for the possible landing of an emergency Ornge air ambulance.

The other man, who is 18-year-old, was treated for serious head injuries. He was initially in critical condition, but paramedics say his condition has stabilized. He remains in hospital with severe injuries.