MAINE, Maine — Three Maine men died Saturday morning in separate ATV crashes in Anson The Forks, and Long Township when they lost control of their ATVs.
In Anson, a 69-year-old Freedom man was killed Saturday morning when he was thrown from the ATV he was riding on a trail in Solon.
Roland Robitaille was second in a line of seven ATVs riding on a trail behind the Solon Road in Anson at approximately 10:40 this morning when he went over a bridge on the trail, lost control of his 2017 Yamaha Grizzly ATV, rolled, and was thrown off the ATV.
Robitaille, who was not wearing a helmet, was found face down in the trail by the ATVs following in his group, with severe trauma to his head and chest. His group called 911 and performed CPR until rescue personnel arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to a funeral home in Skowhegan.
The Maine Warden Service was assisted by the Anson Fire Department, and Anson-Madison Rescue.
In The Forks, Maine, a 32-year-old Readfield man died when he lost control and flipped his ATV.
Joshua Violette was the fifth ATV traveling in a group of nine ATVs on the Divide Road in the Forks when he hit a depression in the road, lost control, and flipped his 2007 Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV at approximately 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Violette died at the scene. His passenger, 33-year-old Ashlie Dostie of Mt. Vernon suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Reddington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan. Neither Violette nor Dostie were wearing helmets.
The Maine Wardens Service, West Forks Fire and Rescue, and Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance all responded to the incident.
In Long Township, a 29-year-old resident of Groton, Massachusetts died after sliding his ATV off a bridge and into a river.
Tyler Curry was riding alone on a private access road at around 5:30 p.m. after leaving the group he had been riding with earlier in the day. Just prior to crossing a bridge, Curry took a left turn and his ATV began sliding towards the edge of the road at a high rate of speed. He straddled the outside of the bridge before he slid off the bridge into the river. Curry was thrown from the ATV as he fell and wasn't wearing a helmet. Two fishermen discovered his body an hour later. He was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries he sustained in the crash.
Speed appears to be a factor in the crash, and the Maine Warden Service continues to investigate. Rangeley Fire, Rangeley PD & US Border Patrol all assisted the Maine Warden Service.
“ATV riding can be a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors when they are driven properly,” said Game Warden Corporal John MacDonald. “Always wear your helmet, always ride under control, always ride sober, and stay on marked trails.”