Two snowmobilers injured, one seriously, at Rangeley Lake;
One snowmobiler seriously hurt at Moosehead Lake;
One snowmobiler hurt in head-on collision in Bradstreet Township

Two snowmobilers from Massachusetts were seriously injured when each crashed their sleds on or near a parked camper trailer on Sunday morning.

Thomas Stewart, 38, of Westford, Mass., and Thomas Henry, 37, of Methuen, Mass., were leaving Rangeley Lake at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sunday and were heading towards ITS 84. The trailhead is marked with flashing yellow lights to assist sledders in finding their way to the groomed trail. The Maine Warden Service was notified at 4 a.m. Sunday.

Mr. Stewart, who was wearing a helmet, struck a parked camper trailer and suffered hip injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening.

Mr. Henry, who also was wearing a helmet, saw Mr. Stewart strike the camper at the last moment, swung his sled to miss the trailer and hit a clump of cedar trees. He suffered two breaks in his left leg and other injures. He was taken by LifeFlight to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. His injuries are serious, but not considered to be life threatening.

According to Maine Warden Service Sgt. Tim Place, both men have been charged with reckless operation of a snowmobile. The incident remains under investigation. Wardens Brock Clukey, Dave Chabot and Dan Christenson, along with Sgt. Place, responded to the scene.

In Greenville, Peter D. Durette Jr., 46, of Lyman, suffered a serious leg injury when he struck 2-feet-high humic – a patch of packed ice — in the East Cover of Moosehead Lake at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday. His snowmobile launched into the air, and flipped and rolled down the ice approximately 150 feet.

Warden Eric Dauphinee said he met Mr. Durette and three other snowmobilers at the Black Frog in Greenville, where the friends brought Mr. Durette to attend to the wound in his right leg. Mr. Durette was transported to C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville, and was to be transported to a Portland hospital for further care. He was in stable condition.

In Bradstreet Township, just south of Jackman, a Winslow man suffered a broken arm when he and another snowmobiler hit each other head at approximately 11 a.m. Sunday on at the crest of a hill on ITS 89.

Darrell Wentworth, 35, of Winslow, was traveling southbound, and Mark Thornton, 39, of Boothbay Harbor, was traveling northbound when the two collided.

Mr. Wentworth was transported by Jackman Fire and Rescue to Jackman Health Center, and transferred to Redington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan. The incident remains under investigation.

Wardens Troy Dauphinee and Tom McKenney and Sgt. Bill Chandler responded, along with MWS Investigators Kevin Anderson and Jason Luce.

Warning: The Maine Warden Service is reminding snowmobilers to use caution when out on the snowmobile trails – day and night. Between 20 and 26 inches of snow remains in the northern woods, and good sledding opportunities remain. The trails, however, are showing signs of spring. Obstacles such as roots and rocks, and open water crossings are showing up on trails. Also, many trails have a hard, crusty layer of ice on them.

Snowmobilers are reminded to not drink and drive, to ride at a reasonable and prudent speed for conditions, and to wear a helmet. Each year, the Maine Warden Service investigates several incidents where snowmobile operators are traveling too fast and “outrun” their headlights. As during the day, snowmobilers out at night are urged to ride at prudent speeds for conditions so they have adequate time to respond to obstacles in front of them.

A Waldoboro man who was last seen on Wednesday night en route from Waldoboro to Nobleboro was recovered from Damariscotta Lake today (January 14, 2010).

Tim York, 45, of Waldoboro, was last seen riding a snowmobile at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and was reported missing to the Maine Warden Service at approximately 9 a.m. today. He said he was going to travel by snowmobile from Waldoboro to Nobleboro on or near Damariscotta Lake.

The Maine Warden Service initiated a search for Mr. York this morning, and the search was conducted by air, along the shoreline and on the lake. A Maine Warden Service pilot spotted what was believed to be Mr. York’s snowmobile in the lake, and that area became the focus of the search. The sled was noticed through a hole in the lake’s ice.

Mr. York was located in that area by Maine Warden Service divers. His family has been notified.

Mr. York was taken to Halls Funeral Home in Waldoboro.

The Maine Warden Service was assisted by the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency and its Communications System, the Jefferson and Newcastle Fire Departments, the Waldoboro Police Department, and Central Lincoln County Ambulance.

Emphasized at Snowmobile Safety Press Conference

AUGUSTA – Gov. John E. Baldacci today joined the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Snowmobile Association to promote snowmobiling in Maine and to emphasize safety and personal responsibility on the trails when out sledding.

During a press conference at the Hall of Flags, the theme “Ride Right, Ride Smart, Ride Responsibly” was accentuated in a new public service announcement produced by the Maine Warden Service and the Maine Snowmobile Association.

The PSA features Gerry James of Presque Isle, whose 22-year-old son, Brian, was killed in a snowmobile incident on April 11, 2009 in T9 R7 WELS, about six miles west of Oxbow in Aroostook County. Brian James, a member of the Maine National Guard, his brother and friends were taking their last ride of the season when the incident occurred.

Mr. James and his wife, Carol, attended the press conference to show support for the safety efforts of the Maine Warden Service. In the PSA, Mr. James stresses that tragedies can happen to any family, including his own.

“Sometimes bad things happen to good people,” Mr. James states in the PSA. “My son, Brian, came home from college for one last ride. He failed to negotiate a turn and struck a tree, which killed him instantly.”

Gov. Baldacci and MDIFW Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin, who knew Brian, expressed their condolences to the James family.

“Mr. and Mrs. James wish they could talk to Brian some more about his love for sledding,” Commissioner Martin said. “Instead, they are here today to tell snowmobilers to be responsible and make it back home. The Jameses asked us to help them get a message out to all snowmobilers: No one should lose their life enjoying one of Maine’s most popular winter activities.”

Last year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife registered more than 99,000 snowmobiles. While the majority of sledders are safe on the trails, 97 people were injured and nine people were killed while snowmobiling during the 2008-2009 season.

Maine’s wide open spaces are a major draw for snowmobilers, and the majority of its snowmobile trails are maintained by about 300 snowmobile clubs statewide.

“It’s no secret. Mainers know the state’s 13,000 miles of trails are the best in the Northeast, and thousands of people from around the country travel here to enjoy them, too,” said Gov. Baldacci. “If you haven’t tried snowmobiling in Maine, you should. Maine is the place to sled.”

Col. Joel Wilkinson of the Maine Warden Service stated that game wardens will be on the trails this season to educate sledders with safe riding tips, and to patrol them for law infractions.

Among the tips offered to snowmobilers are: Don’t drink and ride; wear a helmet; ride to the right on marked trails; ride at a reasonable speed for conditions; bring emergency provisions, including extra batteries if carrying a cell phone or flashlight; leave an itinerary with someone, including when you expect to return and what route you’re taking.

The public service announcement may be viewed at www.youtube.com/mefishwildlife. Select “snowmobile safety.”

Posted by Tom Remington

The Maine Warden Service today (Saturday, April 11, 2009) arrested David Sanborn, 39, of Limerick on one felony count of furnishing alcohol to a minor prior to a serious hit-and-run snowmobile incident on Dec. 29, 2007.

The arrest warrant was issued from York County Superior Court. Mr. Sanborn was transported to York County Jail this afternoon, according to Maine Warden Service Sgt. Tim Spahr.

The Class C felony count carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Mr. Sanborn’s arrest is the second stemming from the snowmobile incident.

On March 12, 2009, Patrick Rosa, 19, of Limerick was sentenced to 120 days in jail in York County Superior Court for his involvement in the same hit-and-run incident. He pleaded guilty to one count of Reckless Conduct (Class D) and one count of Criminal Trespass (Class E). He was sentenced to two concurrent 364-day sentences with all but 120 days suspended. Mr. Rosa also was ordered to perform 250 hours of community service with at least 25 hours being in a trauma rehabilitation facility, among other penalties.

On Dec. 28, 2007, at approximately 9 p.m., Mr. Rosa and three other individuals were racing their snowmobiles along an airstrip near Route 11 in Limerick. The property is closed to snowmobiling.

Mr. Darrin Smith, 44, of Limerick was struck by a snowmobile being driven at a high rate of speed on the airstrip, which is adjacent to his home. Mr. Smith had been walking his dog. The impact vaulted Mr. Smith through the air, shattering his leg and arm. Mr. Smith’s dog also suffered serious injuries. Mr. Smith was located by his 8-year-old daughter, who called 9-1-1 and directed first responders to her seriously injured father, who was lying in a snowbank.

More than a dozen Maine Game Wardens as well as state and county law enforcement responded to the incident and an extensive investigation has been ongoing. Evidence indicated that the incident was alcohol related.

A Pennsylvania couple that left a Greenville area hotel on Thursday morning for a snowmobile ride was found this afternoon in Moosehead Lake, according to the Maine Warden Service.

Clifford Achenbach, 41, and Denise Achenbach, 42, from Pen Argyl, Pa., left the Moose Mountain Inn in Moosehead Junction Township, north of Greenville, on Thursday, March 16, to ride on trails north of the town, and told a hotel attendant they were going “exploring” Maine’s outdoors.

The couple was located at approximately 12:45 p.m. today (March 23, 2009) on Moosehead Lake above the East Outlet dam by a Maine Forest Service helicopter that was manned by MFS Forest Ranger Pilots Shawn Rogers and Lincoln Mazzei and MWS Sgt. Bill Chandler and Game Warden Mike Morrison.

Mr. and Mrs. Achenbach were recovered from Moosehead Lake shortly before 4 p.m., and transported to Crosby Funeral Home in Guilford, where they will be evaluated Tuesday morning.

The Achenbachs’ family was notified of the deaths when it arrived in Greenville from Pennsylvania after 4 p.m. today. Maine Warden Service Chaplain Kate Braestrup was available to help the family.

The Achenbachs had checked into the Moose Mountain Inn on March 16, and planned to stay until Saturday, March 21. Earlier in the week, Mr. Achenbach told a hotel worker that the couple had ridden to Pittston Farm and Northeast Carry.

The Maine Warden Service received the missing persons report at 7:30 a.m. today, March 23, 2009. Family members in Pennsylvania, concerned that the couple had not arrived home over the weekend, called the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office, which notified the Maine Warden Service.

Fifteen Game Wardens and two MWS aircraft searched for the couple. The Maine Forest Service assisted in the search with its helicopter because that aircraft is able to position itself closer to bodies of water.

The area where the couple was located today has been the scene of snowmobile-related fatalities in the past, according to MWS Lt. Pat Dorian. Open water and thin ice are normal conditions here as the water is continuously moving due to the following reasons: Moosehead Lake feeds into the East Outlet of the Kennebec River, creating headwaters; and as winter progresses, water is drawn down to feed the Dam at East Outlet, a hydroelectric generator. If a snowmobiler is unfamiliar with the area, they could encounter thin ice or open water as close to a quarter-mile before the dam.

Some of the fatalities have occurred at night, according to Lt. Dorian. Snowmobilers are drawn to the lights on the dam and at sporting camps on the other side of the dam. Sledders focused on heading towards the lights to get off of the lake may have believed they would be traveling on solid ice towards shore, only to encounter thin ice or open water, the Lieutenant said.

The time of the Achenbachs’ deaths is not known, according to Lt. Dorian.

Eight people have died in snowmobile-related incidents this season, which began mid-December 2008.

Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service
The bodies of Clifford and Denise Achenbach of Pen Argyl, Pa., were located and recovered from Moosehead Lake near the East Outlet dam on Monday afternoon, March 23, 2009. (To the right is Route 15. Near the top of the photo you can see the East Outlet dam.)

Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service
Maine Warden Service Game Wardens travel by airboat during recovery mission on Moosehead Lake.

Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service
Maine Warden Service Game Wardens Mike Favreau, Dan Carroll and Eric Dauphinee begin the recovery of Clifford and Denise Achenbach of Pen Argyl, Penn.

Tom Remington

The Maine Warden Service is conducting a search for a missing Pennsylvania couple that went out snowmobiling on Thursday morning and did not return to their hotel in Moosehead Junction Township, north of Greenville.

The Maine Warden Service received the missing persons report at 7:30 a.m. today, March 23, 2009. Twelve Game Wardens and two MWS aircraft are searching for the couple, and a Maine Forestry Department helicopter is en route to assist.

The couple is from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania. They planned to ride north and ride off trail, according to Lt. Pat Dorian of the Maine Warden Service.

Missing are:

Clifford Achenbach: 41 years old, 6-foot-2-inches, approximately 170 pounds, dark reddish hair, brown eyes.

Denise Achenbach: 42 years old, 5-foot-8-inches, approximately 140 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes.

They were riding a 2009 Polaris, red in color, and a 2007 Arctic Cat, green in color.

The couple checked into the Moose Mountain Inn on March 16, and planned on staying until Saturday, March 21. Earlier in the week, Mr. Achenbach told a hotel attendant that the couple had ridden to Pittston Farm and Northeast Carry.

The couple was due back at work in Pennsylvania today.

People with information about the couple should contact Piscataquis Sheriff’s Office 1-800-432-7372

A picture of Clifford Achenbach.

The red snowmobile on the left belongs to Clifford Achenbach. He is the person wearing a black snowmobile suit and waving. He was wearing that suit when he went out sledding on Thursday.

Posted by Tom Remington

Readers interested in Maine fish and game activities, the March Edition of “The Insider” is available to read by following this link.

In this edition you can get information about the new process to apply for a chance at a moose permit, great stuff about monitoring efforts of Maine’s hibernating black bears, tons of news, information and reports, including the latest ice fishing reports from all the regions around the state.

Tom Remington

A 25-year-old Massachusetts man was seriously injured when he hit a mogul on a trail near Rockwood this afternoon (Feb. 27, 2009).

Michael Sargent, 25, of Bedford, Mass., was traveling at an estimated 50 miles per hour on ITS 66 en route towards North East Carry and Kokadjo when he neared a narrow bridge that had two snow moguls near it, according to Maine Warden Service Game Warden Mike Favreau.

The accident occurred approximately 6 miles outside of Rockwood near Kineo at approximately 2 p.m. today. The Maine Warden Service was notified at 3:15 p.m.

The incident is under investigation. Speed was a factor, according to Warden Favreau.

Mr. Sargent hit one of the moguls, and his snowmobile traveled vertically into the air. Mr. Sargent fell off the sled and landed on his back. The snowmobile landed on its rear tail light near Mr. Sargent and broke apart into pieces, according to Warden Favreau.

Emergency responders were told that Mr. Sargent initially couldn’t move his legs. He was conscious and talking to his brother, Mark, his father, David, and other family members and friends who were snowmobiling with him.

Mr. Sargent suffered back and internal injuries, according to Warden Favreau. He was wearing a helmet.

Rockwood Rescue transported Mr. Sargent from the trail, and they were met by C.A. Dean Ambulance, which transported Mr. Sargent to Mayo Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft. LifeFlight was called to the hospital. Rain in the area may ground LifeFlight, and the intended plan is to transport Mr. Sargent to Eastern Maine Medical Hospital in Bangor tonight.

Emergency responders received three different calls for service from snowmobilers who came upon the accident and called for help once they were in an area with cell phone service, according to Warden Favreau. One report was that two people were badly hurt and laying on the trail. Another said a female was injured on the trail, and the third call was that a man was seriously hurt.

Five Game Wardens responded, heading out on the trail from locations where the incidents were said to be – in the Kokadjo area and in the Rockwood area. Ed and Shirley Raymond, who own Raymond’s Country Store in North East Carry, also went out on the trail and reported that the only incident they had come upon was the one involving Mr. Sargent.

“We had to err on the side of caution,” Warden Favreau said. “There were no other accidents.”

Game Wardens Troy Dauphinee, Eric Dauphinee, Jim Barbierz and Ray Miller, and Sgt. Scott Thrasher responded to the incident.

A New Hampshire man reported missing by a friend after he failed to return to her Brownville home as planned on Sunday called his friend late this afternoon, February 24, 2009, to say he was OK and on his way back to her house.

Kevin O’Neal, 44, of Seabrook, N.H., had told his friend on Saturday, Feb. 21, that he would be snowmobiling from Pittston Farm via Kokadjo to Millinocket to meet friends there, and that he would be back in Brownville on Sunday, according to MWS Lt. Pat Dorian.

The Maine Warden Service received a missing persons report at 10:15 a.m. today, and was informed that Mr. O’Neal was last seen at Pittston Farm between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Mr. O’Neal left his vehicle and trailer at a friend’s house in Brownville, and set out snowmobiling on a bright light blue older model 800 Polaris snowmobile on Saturday morning.

Upon receiving the emergency call, the Maine Warden Service initiated a massive search from Mr. O’Neal on Monday morning. A MWS pilot flew for more than three hours checking snowmobile trails from Pittston Farm to Kokadjo, from Kokadjo to Millinocket, and from Brownville to Pittston Farm. At least 10 Game Wardens searched main snowmobile trails, many that had not been broken open yet since Sunday/Monday’s snowstorm. Snow in many locations still is four to five feet deep.

The friend notified the Maine Warden Service late this afternoon that Mr. O’Neal had called from Big Lake Equipment, a snowmobile repair shop in Greenville, and was en route back to Brownville. She told the Maine Warden Service that Mr. O’Neal had been snowmobiling the last few days and may have stayed with friends along the way, according to Lt. Dorian.

MWS Game Wardens were en route to speak to Mr. O’Neal this evening. The incident remains under investigation.

Posted by Tom Remington

A 35-year-old Westport Island man was able to use his cell phone to call for help after falling through thin ice on his snowmobile this afternoon, Feb. 24, 2009.

Roger Mackbach, 35, of Westport Island, was alone when he was driving his snowmobile on Stony Brook in Pittston at approximately 4:15 p.m. today. Mr. Mackbach came off of his seld when it broke through thin ice in approximately four feet of water, according to MWS game Warden Doug Kulis.

Mr. Mackbach, who has one arm, was able to stand in the water and used his cell phone to call for help. He was in the water for approximately 35 minutes before he was rescued by Gardiner Rescue.

Mr. Mackbach suffered mild hypothermia and was transported to Maine General Hospital.

Posted by Tom Remington

A 68-year-old Lily Bay man died today (Feb. 24, 2009) from injuries he suffered in a snowmobile incident on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

Paul Tibbetts, 68, of Lily Bay, was snowmobiling with his five nephews on a groomed trail four miles from Kokadjo, at approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday when he missed a turn on the trail and struck a snow bank located just off the trail, according to MWS Lt. Pat Dorian.

Mr. Tibbetts was thrown over the front of his snowmobile and landed on his back. He was wearing a helmet. His nephews performed first aid and transported their uncle to C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville. He was treated there and transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

The Maine Warden Service was contacted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner at 1:30 p.m. today requesting a report on this incident. According to Lt. Dorian, this was the first notification of the incident received by the Maine Warden Service.

The incident is under investigation. Mr. Tibbett’s death is the sixth snowmobile-related fatality this season.

Posted by Tom Remington