Late on the night of January 1, 2026, the quiet stretches of Huff Road in Norman Township, Manistee County, Michigan became the scene of a heartbreaking tragedy when 22‑year‑old Kelton Fink of Onekama lost his life in a snowmobile crash that left his friends and first responders struggling against time.
It was just before midnight — around 11:50 p.m. — when the Manistee County Sheriff’s Office received the call about a possible snowmobile accident on Huff Road near the intersections of Pine Creek Road and Chicago Avenue. Deputies, along with Norman Township Fire and EMS and other medical personnel, rushed to the scene hoping to find survivors.
When they arrived, they found Fink unresponsive amid the trees alongside the road. He had been riding at the back of a group of five snowmobilers who were traveling together earlier that night. Witnesses told deputies they had just rounded a curve in the roadway when they noticed Fink’s headlight was missing from view.
Fellow riders immediately turned back and found his machine off the roadway, tangled among the trees. They didn’t hesitate — starting lifesaving measures right away and calling for emergency help. When deputies and EMS crews reached the spot, they continued those efforts, but it was too late. Despite their best work, Fink was pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation by the sheriff’s office suggests that Fink’s snowmobile “failed to negotiate the curve,” causing it to leave the roadway and come to rest in the wooded area. No other injuries were reported from the group that night.
At this point, authorities have not released details on weather conditions at the time, whether speed played a role, or if protective gear was in use. The crash remains under active investigation, and the sheriff’s office says it will share more information if it becomes available.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office offered its “deepest condolences” to Fink’s family and friends, and reminded all snowmobile operators to use caution — especially on roadways at night and when navigating unfamiliar curves or terrain.
