McDONOUGH – The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of a snowmobile accident that took the life of a Smithville man early Wednesday morning.

Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Cobb said 48-year-old Ross Scribner Jr. was killed between 1 and 4 a.m. Wednesday after the Polaris snowmobile he was riding along Creek Road in the Town of McDonough left the side of the road and went down a steep embankment.

Cobb said the snowmobile tilted slightly before striking a tree, causing Mr. Scribner to absorb much of the force of the accident and knocking him off the vehicle. The snowmobile continued another 25 yards down the 45-degree incline without its driver before coming to rest.