July 4, 2019

MDIFW NEWS: Game wardens urge safety following several July 4th incidents

Game wardens have responding to several incidents today, many if which included ATV related crashes and serious injuries. In many cases, game wardens are finding those injured were operating without helmets and urge riders to wear protective headgear and maintain safe trail speeds. The following are summaries of some of the more serious incidents that occurred today.

FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP, Maine - Game wardens responded to an ATV crash this morning that took place on the Frenchtown Road in Shawtown Township. The crash involved two subjects on a single dirt bike sometime during the early morning hours. Brynden McAndrews, 23, from Connecticut, was the operator and sustained serious leg injuries. McAndrews was wearing a helmet, his passenger was not. His passenger, 26-year-old Eric White, was not injured. This crash remains under investigation.

LONG LAKE, SAINT AGATHA, Maine - Game wardens received a report at 11:00 this morning of a boat on fire on Long Lake in St Agatha, Maine. The boat was being operated by Ken Martin, 60, with passenger Kenny Prescott, 34, both from Sinclair. The men were able to place their lifejackets on and get onto a nearby boat to safety. The rescue boat attempted to tow the burning boat to shore but flames became too severe and the tow line was cut.

The fully engulfed boat drifted to within 70 feet from shore where Madawaska Fire Department and other private boats were able to extinguish the flames. Once the fire was out, the boat was towed onto a nearby public beach where it was removed using a front-end loader supplied by a local resident. There were no injuries. The 24-foot 1996 Mariah Jubilie watercraft was a total loss. Attached photos courtesy of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

BURNHAM, Maine At about 2:00 this afternoon, game wardens responded to an UTV crash in Burnham off the Winnecook Road. The UTV was being operated by a 15-year-old male with a 25-year-old passenger, Nicholas Chadwick. The UTV was being operated on their private property. The 15-year-old suffered a concussion and both individuals were transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield. Neither were wearing helmets. This incident remains under investigation.

CARIBOU, Maine Game wardens responded to another ATV crash this afternoon at the north end of the Bowels Road in Caribou. Two 14-year-olds and a 4-year-old were transported to Cary Medical Center in Caribou as a result of the crash. The incident took place just after 3:00 near Guerrette Farms. The 4-year-old male received a laceration on his forehead and his older brother received an injured elbow. The second 14-year-old, a friend, received a broken wrist as well as a face laceration and a possible concussion. None were wearing helmets, but they were wearing seatbelts. They had been operating a 2013 Can AM Maverick 1000. It appears the three rolled over and lost control while operating downhill. The UTV was owned by the grandfather of the two brothers. This case remains under investigation