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Press Releases

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

Telephone: work (207) 287-6008 cell (207) 592-1164

Fax: (207) 287-6395

• Maine Wildlife Park Press Releases
• Previous Press Releases for 2008
• Previous Press Releases for 2007

April 19, 2008

Two Men in Critical Condition After Two Separate Snowmobile Incidents

Augusta – Two men are in critical condition at Eastern Maine Medical Center after being involved in two separate snowmobile incidents, according to the Maine Warden Service.

On Friday evening, Glen F. Zona, 40, of Worcester, Mass. was riding on the extreme left side of a trail behind the Border Riders Snowmobile Club in Dennistown toward Route 201 when one of his machine’s skis went off the trail.

Mr. Zona, who was riding with four others from Massachusetts and Connecticut, and his snowmobile traveled approximately 47 feet in the air before both landed on the edge of the trail, according to Warden James Babiarz.

Mr. Zona became impaled on a tree root approximately 1.5-2 inches in diameter, but didn’t realize his injury until after he removed himself from it and fell onto the trail, Babiarz said.

One of Mr. Zona’s fellow riders headed toward Route 201 and flagged down a Border Patrol Agent who called for the Maine Warden Service. Babiarz said he was nearby, and when he was informed about Mr. Zona’s injuries, he immediately called for Life Flight while he was en route to the scene. Another Border Patrol Agent, who also heard the scanner traffic, drove to the scene, and applied pressure to Mr. Zona’s injuries until he could be transported.

Mr. Zona first was taken to Jackman Health Center and then Lifeflighted to Eastern Maine Medical Center, Babiarz said. He remained in critical condition Saturday night.

“Speed and where they were riding were factors in the incident,” Babiarz said. “They were riding on the extreme left side of the trail because the center side was rough. Also, the trails are extremely slippery right now. It takes so much longer to stop. Riders need to be aware of that.”

Babiarz said Mr. Zona was wearing a helmet, and was wearing a T-shirt and pants.

On Saturday afternoon, an Orneville man was critically injured when he hit a tree while riding his snowmobile.

Leo Mitsin, 62, was riding with two friends on Philpot Ridge Road about a half-mile from his house when the incident occurred. According to Warden Sgt. Kevin Adam, Mr. Mitsin was attempting to negotiate a turn where the road becomes a trail, but there was no snow on that part of the route.

Mr. Mitsin hit a stump, was thrown off the snowmobile, and hit his head on a tree, Sgt. Adam said. He was not wearing a helmet. His friends did not witness the incident because one was driving ahead of him and the other was behind him.

The Milo Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance, Mayo Ambulance and EMTs assisted Mr. Mitsin until Life Flight could arrive, Sgt. Adam said. Warden Mike Boyer is the primary investigator.

“Without the advance care he received in the woods, Mr. Mitsin’s condition could have worsened,” Sgt. Adam said.

Sgt. Adam said that snowmobilers need to be careful riding in warm weather.

“Anyone snowmobiling right now needs to wear their helmet even though it is warm weather,” he said. “Helmets do more than protect your head from the cold.”

Both incidents remain under investigation.

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