Site Map |

Search IFW:

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

• Commissioner's OfficeBureaus & Divisions
• All-Terrain Vehicles, Snowmobiles, and Watercraft
• Education
• Employment
• Fishing
• Grants
• Hunting and Trapping
• Laws and Rules
• Licenses and Permits
• News and Events
  • Meetings and Events
  • Press Releases
• Wildlife

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

• Maine Wildlife Park Press Releases
• Previous Press Releases for 2009
• Previous Press Releases for 2008

March 12, 2009

Presque Isle Man Seriously Hurt in Snowmobile Incident

Augusta, Maine - Alberto Vazquez, 29, of Presque Isle, was seriously injured at approximately 2 p.m. today (March 12, 2009) when he struck an 8-inch tree with his snowmobile, a 1989 Safari Ski Doo, and the sled caught on fire.

Mr. Vazquez, who witnesses say is not an experienced rider and was not wearing a helmet, was the first in a group of three snowmobilers traveling in an easterly direction on ITS 88 in Castle Hill when the incident occurred, according to Maine Warden Service Sgt. Thomas Ward. The two other snowmobilers are from Castle Hill.

Mr. Vazquez’s clothing caught fire, and he received burns to his face and body before his friends could put out the fire on his body. Mr. Vazquez was transported by Crown Ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, where he was stabilized, and later was transported by LifeFlight to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

His injuries do not appear to be life threatening, according to Sgt. Ward.

Game Wardens Preston Pomerleau and Kevin Pelkey are investigating the incident.

Aroostook Valley Snowmobile Club members used their groomer to come out to the scene and remove the sled, which was totaled.

Maine.gov | IFW Home | Site Policies