Newsworthy
Four Injured in Week-end ATV Crashes
BDN 26 September 2011
Two ATV crashes on Saturday in eastern and western Maine sent four people to the hospital, several with serious injuries, and prompted state officials to urge riders to use caution and wear helmets on the trails.
The first incident happened at around 6 p.m. Saturday in Robbinston, a Washington County town located south of Calais.
According to the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the two ATVs on which Rebecca and John Stanhope of Robbinston were riding went into the woods and struck trees when the vehicles' tires touched during an attempted pass.
Rebecca Stanhope reportedly suffered a collapsed lung while her husband was treated for broken ribs and internal injuries. The driver of one of the ATVs, Doug Smith of Princeton, was not injured.
The second crash happened at roughly 9 p.m. Saturday in Sumner on Oxford County. Peter Harrington of Sumner was riding on Abbott Hill Road with his 11-year old stepson when Harrington's ATV reportedly hit a tree head-on at high speed. Harringtonwas taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries while his stepson was treated for scrapes and bruises.
DIF&W spokeswoman Edie Smith said Sunday that none of the five riders was wearing a helmet and that wardens investigating the incidents believe speed was a factor in both crashes.
"As always, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Warden Service urge ATV operators and riders to use caution, drive at a safe speed and wear helments," Smith said in a written statement.
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Fatal 4-wheeler accident in Frenchville (updated 9 a.m., 9/19/2011)
Monica Pettengill Jerkins
18 September 2011
FRENCHVILLE - A Limestone man is dead following an ATV crash on the Airport Road in Frenchville last night at approximately 6:05 p.m.
Frenchville Fire Chief, Mike Michaud, confirmed that Sunday evening 69-year-old John Tweed of Limestone was riding 4-wheeler with a friend. He attempted to cross Airport Road to reach an ATV side trail, but was traveling too fast, according to reports. Tweed lost control of his 4-wheeler when his wheels contacted the new pavement on Airport Road and then overcorrected, sending him headfirst into the pavement.
He was not wearing a helmet.
When the first responders arrived at the scene, they tried to revive Tweed, but he was pronounced dead at the scene when the ambulance arrived.
"It's one of those calls that you never want to go to," said Michaud.
Michaud reported that four state troopers, three game wardens, a border patrol agent, and his department all responded to the scene.
Tweed's friend, on another 4-wheeler, was uninvolved in the crash. There were no other persons or vehicles involved.
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ATV Riders Urged to Avoid Mud
The Maine Department of Conservation says all-terrain trails are starting to open, but many trails are still too muddy for riding. Officials warned ATV operators that they shouldn't ride on any trail until it's completely dry and mud season signs have been removed. The 85-mile long Down East Sunrise Trail through Hancock and Washington counties opened over the weekend, and most trails will be open by Memorial Day. Maine has about 6,200 miles of ATV trails, 95 percent of them on private land. The Bureau of Public Lands says ATV riding in increasing and the state wants to encourage it because of the positive impact of tourism on Maine's economy.
BDN
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Access to Downtown Madawaska (April 2011)
THE NEW TOWN POLICY WILL BE THAT ALL STREETS IN TOWN WILL ALLOW ATV AND SNOWMOBILES TO OPERATE BUT WITH THE FACT BEING THAT YOU MUST GO 10 MPH OR LESS AND KEEP TO THE RIGHT AND KEEP NOISE DOWN AND USE THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO YOUR DESTINATION. ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT TAKE OF FROM 26TH AVENUE AND GOT TO DAIGLE OIL TO GAS USING THE STREETS. USE THE TRAILS TO DO THAT. IF YOU DO YOU MAY GET A WARNING FROM POLICE OR A TICKET.
WE WILL ALSO MAKE SIGNS AT THE TRAIL HEADS INDICATING SUCH.
Visit the video section of this site for instructions.
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Irving Lands Riding Requirements
We are certainly privileged again this season to be able to ride Irving Lands ATV trails. Our Map Section of this site shows you where these trails are and how to access them. But there are requirements that must be met to be able to ride these trails. Here they are. First, you must belong to an ATV Club that has aquired and paid for a "Liability Insurance" purchased from "Maine ATV" . Secondly, you must be a current paid member of that said local ATV club. You will have to have your club's sticker on your unit along with the round Maine ATV sticker on your unit. Thirdly, You must have your club registration card on your person while riding. If any of these requirements are not met and you are checked by either an Irving representative or State of Maine Warden Service, you will be held liable and probably be given a ticket. So please, follow these required steps and help us keep our relationship with Irving "Top Notch" so that we can continue to enjoy these trails. Also, please stay on marked trails only. They will not tolerate any infractions. These rules apply for this riding year, 2011.
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Park & Ride (April 2011)
The subject of where to park your vehicle when "trucking" your ATV into Madawaska to unload and then go riding has been questioned by many this season. Well, we now have two locations, one in St. David and one in Madawaska for you out-of-towners. The one in St.David is located behind Morin's Variety at 756 Main Street, Madawaska (as some would deny, St. David is a suburb of Madawaska!) and the second location is our Four Seasons Lodge on Spring Street, also in Madawaska. You are welcome to park your trucks and trailers at these locations and enjoy the best trails North of Miami!!!
