COOLIN — A Spirit Lake man was fatally injured last Saturday after colliding with a tree branch while snow biking with friends near Priest Lake, according to Bonner County sheriff’s officials.

The victim has been identified as Corey Glen Magers, a lifelong northern Idaho resident. He was 31.

“It’s a sad situation. It was literally a fluke accident,” said Undersheriff Ror Lakewold.

The accident was reported shortly after 11 a.m. in the Lost Creek drainage southeast of Coolin.

“He was conscious and they transported him out on another machine and called 911,” Lakeowld said.

The group rendezvoused with Priest Lake EMS at Cavanaugh Bay and a Life Flight Network helicopter was also dispatched to the scene, but Magers died before he could be evacuated.

“Life-saving efforts were applied and he succumbed to his injuries,” said Lakewold.

Magers was riding a snow bike, which consists of a motorcycle chassis fitted with snowmobile-like treads. It combines the agility of an off-road motorcycle with the terrain capabilities of a snowmobile.

Lakewold said the branch Magers struck was about 4 inches in diameter and appeared to be part of a fallen tree.

Magers was a lifelong northern Idaho resident with a passion for motorsports and other outdoor endeavors, according to an obituary slated for publication in Wednesday’s Daily Bee. He was the son of David and Sandra Magers.

Corey Magers is survived by his wife, Jenny.

A celebration of life will be held at Nordman Resort on March 24 at 2 p.m.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.