A Massachusetts man critically injured in a snowmobile crash Friday night in northern Penobscot County has died, a spokesperson for the Maine Warden Service reported Monday. The death marks the 7th snowmobile related fatality this season.
Duane Carter, 55, of Spencer, Massachusetts, was riding with a group on ITS 83, a portion of Swift Brook Road near Stacyville on Feb. 22, when he and rider Keith Sanford, 47, of Benedicta both failed to make a corner.
Carter, who was following Sanford, collided with the back of the Sanford’s snowmobile, Cpl. John MacDonald reported. Carter was thrown from his 2016 Ski Doo, suffering serious injuries in the crash. Sanford suffered a back injury. Both men were taken to Millinocket Regional Hospital, but Carter was later taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
MacDonald reported Monday that Carter died. He did not indicate exactly when.
Maine had six snowmobile fatalities last season. The most deaths was 16 recorded during the winter of 2002-2003.
“The Maine Warden Service continues to urge riders to slow down,” MacDonald said. “The leading contributing factor in snowmobile related crashes remains excessive speed. Riders must leave appropriate time and distances while riding to negotiate other riders, trail intersections and turns as well as obstacles.”
This article originally appeared on www.bangordailynews.com.
