Riders injured in Portage, Caribou snowmobile crashes

5 years ago

PORTAGE LAKE, Maine — Two snowmobilers in Aroostook County suffered injuries in in separate crashes Sunday and were treated at area hospitals.

On Sunday morning, two snowmobilers from southern Maine were riding in Caribou on ITS 90 when one rear-ended the other while crossing a bridge, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Cindy McGriff of North Waterboro ran her snowmobile into the rear of another rider’s snowmobile, Warden Service Lt. Daniel Menard reported Monday. McGriff was taken to Cary Medical Center in Caribou, treated and released.

Later Sunday, around 6:30 p.m. Jennifer McPherson of the Sebago Lake area was travelling east in the town of Portage Lake on ITS 90 and struck a tree after going off trail, Menard said.

McPherson’s family transported her to Dean’s Restaurant in Portage Lake, about one mile from the crash site, and Ashland Ambulance personnel took her to Northern Light Health A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle with injuries that were not considered to be life threatening, according to Menard.

“With several snowmobile crashes reported this weekend Maine Game Wardens urge the snowmobiling public to operate at a reasonable and prudent speed, obey all of Maine’s snowmobile laws, and be mindful of others using the trail systems,” Menard said.

Other snowmobile crashes that led to injuries occurred in Falmouth and Hebron Sunday.

On Saturday, two snowmobilers died in separate crashes in the towns of Poland and Norway. This winter Maine has seen five deaths from snowmobile crashes.