Press Releases

Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Media representatives can receive press releases via e-mail.

Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395

March 17, 2009

Rumford Man Injured After Hitting Tree

A 23-year-old Rumford man who was injured after hitting a tree with his snowmobile last night was located this morning by a man who heard the sledder’s screams while waiting at a bus stop with his child.

Eric Westleigh, 23, of Rumford, was riding on a secondary marked-and-groomed trail off Route 232 in Rumford Point at approximately 11 p.m. yesterday (March 16) when he hit a tree head on, according to Maine Warden Service Game Warden Brock Clukey.

Mr. Westleigh, who was wearing a helmet, seriously injured his hip and legs and was unable to leave the trail. The impact forced his helmet and boots to come off.

This morning, Miles Roberts of Rumford was waiting with his child for the school bus when he heard Mr. Westleigh hollering for help across a field, approximately 300 yards away. The snowmobiler had been lying by the vehicle throughout the night in freezing temperatures, according to Warden Clukey.

Mr. Roberts and his wife, Renee, who is an emergency room nurse, administered aid to the snowmobiler and called emergency services at approximately 6:30 a.m. today.

Mr. Westleigh was transported by MedCare Ambulance to Rumford Hospital, and later was transported by LifeFlight to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

The incident is under investigation. Rumford Fire Department and Rumford Police Department assisted.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

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