UPDATED Tuesday, February 3, 2009 --- 8:20 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Wis. (AP) -- The victim of a car-snowmobile accident in Columbia County was identified Monday as a 38-year-old rural Columbus man.

Sheriff's officials said Larry Haeffner was operating the snowmobile that was hit by a car while crossing state Highway 60 about 6 p.m. Sunday.

Haeffner died later at Columbus Community Hospital.

The state Department of Natural Resources said two snowmobiles were traveling together and the first one safely crossed the highway but the second was hit when it failed to yield for a car.

The DNR said 17 snowmobile riders have died in accidents this season.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, February 2, 2009 --- 5:10 p.m.

Press Release from Columbia County Sheriff's Dept.:

The name oft he snowmobile operator that was killed in a crash on February 1, 2009 is identified as follows:

Larry T. Haeffner, age 38, of rural Columbus. Mr. Haeffner was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. He was transported to Columbus Community Hospital where he later died of his injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Columbia County Medical Examiner's Office.

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Monday, February 2, 2009 --- 2:28 a.m.

Press Release from Columbia County Sheriff's Dept.:

At 6:09 PM on February 1st, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office received a report of a motor vehicle versus snowmobile crash on State Highway 60 near Wendt Rd. in Columbus Township.

Upon arrival, Sheriff's deputies learned that an eastbound passenger car operated by Brittany Hirssig, age 22 of Lodi, struck a northbound snowmobile. The snowmobile was crossing the highway from a designated trail. The snowmobile operator, a 38 year old rural Columbus man was transported to a local hospital. The operator of the snowmobile was pronounced deceased at the hospital.