January 7, 2017

A Massachusetts man is dead after his snowmobile breaks through thin ice.

A Massachusetts? man was pronounced dead this afternoon after a snowmobile he was operating broke through thin ice on Messalonskee Lake (Snow Pond) in Oakland. Richard Dumont, 52, from North Attleboro was riding a friend and business partner?s Polaris 550 snowmobile towards the outlet of the lake when it broke through.

Witnesses who saw the incident called 911 at 2:51 PM causing an immediate response by Oakland Fire Department, Oakland Police Department, Maine State Police and the Maine Warden Service. Fire department personnel were able to reach Dumont with an ice rescue sled and pull him from the water. Delta Ambulance staff attempted to revive Dumont and he was transported to Inland Hospital in Waterville where he was pronounced dead. The Maine Warden Service will continue to investigate this incident.

This is a tragic reminder that Maine?s lakes and ponds vary widely in ice thickness and safety for snowmobilers and others who recreate on the ice. Game wardens are asking that everyone exercise extreme caution on any water body this winter season. This is Maine?s second snowmobile related fatality this season.

Attached photo courtesy of the Maine Warden Service. Snowmobile tracks can be seen leading to thin ice where Dumont entered the water and died.