WILTON, Maine — A man is in critical condition following a boating crash Thursday evening in Wilton.
At about 5:30 p.m., 47-year-old Bertrand Poisson of Wilton was operating his jet ski on Wilson Lake, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife spokesperson Mark Latti said in a release.
According to Latti, Poisson was reportedly operating at "high speeds" and "traveling in a back-and-forth serpentine fashion."
"At one point as he was turning, he was thrown off the jet ski and tumbled across the water at high speed," the release stated.
Immediately after, Poisson began yelling for help and several boaters and witnesses were able to respond and pull him out of the water. Witnesses transported him by boat to the Wilson Lake boat launch where emergency officials performed life-saving measures because he was struggling to breathe, Latti said.
Poisson was taken to Central Maine Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.
Latti said the initial investigation revealed that speed, alcohol, and marijuana appear to be factors in the crash. Poisson also reportedly purchased the jet ski recently and had little experience operating jet skis.
The Wilton Police Department, North Star EMS, and emergency personnel with LifeFlight assisted. LifeFlight did respond to the scene but did not transport Poisson, Latti said.
The Maine Warden Service continues to investigate the crash.