NH Fish & Game Rescues 2018.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Snowmobile Crash Injures A NY Man

CARROLL, NH - A New York man was injured in snowmobile crash in the town of Carroll around 11:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Officials said that Michael Dougherty, 33, from New York, NY, was operating a snowmobile on the 25 Dollar Trail when he failed to negotiate a turn and crashed into a tree. Dougherty was a first time rider and was following behind his friend when the crash occurred. A 911 call was placed from the scene by Dougherty�s riding companion, which initiated a rescue response.

Rescue personnel from Twin Mtn. Fire and EMS responded with their tracked, rescue ATV and toboggan and extracted Dougherty from the scene via Old Cherry Mtn. Road. He was then transported to Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster for treatment and evaluation of his injuries. Although the extent of his injuries remains unknown, they are considered non-life threatening.

Dougherty was wearing a helmet and other appropriate riding gear at the time of the accident. It was deemed that inexperience was the chief contributing factor in this crash.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Woman Injured After Snowmobile Ejection

BOW, NH - On Saturday March 17, 2018 a Waterbury Connecticut women suffered non-life threatening injuries after being ejected from her snowmobile after colliding into a "boulder" in the Bow School Forest off of the snowmobile trail.

59 year old Karen Mera from Waterbury Connecticut was riding her snowmobile in Bow with her brother in law when she tried to navigate through a swampy section of trail that was not frozen. Mrs. Mera grabbed the throttle and held on tight to the handle bars losing control then striking a "boulder" causing her to be ejected off the snowmobile. Bow Fire and Rescue responded to the scene then transported Mrs. Mera to the Concord Hospital for minor injuries. The accident is still under investigation by the Fish and Game Department. Based on facts surrounding the investigation it appears inexperience and speed is the primary cause of the accident.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers want to remind the public, despite the large amounts of snow the southern part of the state has received in the past week that the riding conditions are very spring like with unsafe ice, and exposed water bars and rocks. All riders are reminded to use cautions and be in control of your snowmobile.

Girl, 11, Injured in Single Snowmobile Crash

STARK, NH - In the mid-morning of Saturday, March 17, 2018, a girl sustained injuries after crashing a snowmobile she was operating on Nash Stream Road.

Shortly after 10:00 AM, a snowmobile operated by Madison Lutz, 11, of Danvers, MA collided with a tree when she lost control while negotiating a turn. Due to the possibility of severe injury, family and friends in her riding party determined to make an emergency call to 911.

Upon receiving word of the incident, Groveton EMS responded to Nash Stream road where she was awaiting assistance. After initial assessment she was ultimately transported to Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster for further evaluation and treatment.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Lost Snowmobiler Located

EASTON, NH - At 6:00 pm on March 16, 2018 the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a lost snowmobiler somewhere near Bog Pond in Lincoln, NH, whose exact location was unknown. The snowmobiler was identified as Robert Miner, 55, of Wentworth, NH and it was determined that he was in along power lines in Easton, NH. Conservation Officers responded to the area and walked through deep snow in order to reach Mr. Miner. The rescue party and Mr. Miner, under his own power, returned to the rescue staging area at 11:43 pm.

Mr. Miner was snowmobiling for the day when he followed a snowmobile track off the trail and into an area he was unfamiliar with. He descended a steep cliff and encountered extremely deep and loose snow, which caused his snowmobile to get stuck. After attempting to get his snowmobile out with no success, Mr. Miner attempted to walk to help but became concerned with the approaching darkness and fatigue from walking in deep snow.

The New Hampshire Fish & Game Department wants to remind snowmobilers to stay on marked trails and ride with a buddy or group. It is illegal to operate a snowmobile off of a trail on private land without written landowner permission. While enjoying the final portion of the winter it is important to understand that trail conditions can change swiftly and some locations have an entire winter�s snow accumulation making it very easy for mishaps to occur.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Lost Snowmobiler Assisted

ORFORD, NH - At around 4:00 pm on March 15, 2018, Michael Oneil from Thornton, NH, called NH Fish and Game and explained that he got his snowmobile stuck. At the time he called, Oneil had been walking for several miles and decided he should call because he needed help. He was unable to tell Conservation Officers exactly what town he was in or what trail he was on when he had become stuck. Conservations Officers responded and searched in one particular area based on a single landmark that the caller had been able to remember and which was known to one of the officers. At around 7:20pm, Conservation Officers located Oneil on his snowmobile near the area at which he had said he was stuck. While walking he had come across another snowmobiler who then volunteered to drive Oneil back to his snowmobile and help him get his snowmobile unstuck.

Oneil had taken his snowmobile into an area that was not a designated trail. When Conservation Officers located Oneil, he was just returning to the official trail. Oneil was uninjured and able to leave the scene on his own accord.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Hiker Carried Off Blueberry Ledge Trail

WATERVILLE VALLEY, NH - On Tuesday, March 6th at approximately 5:00 PM Melissa O'Brien, 46 of Epsom, NH was descending from the summit of Mt. Whiteface in Waterville Valley slipped and injured her ankle. Melissa was hiking with two friends and Melissa attempted to continue hiking but after traveling less than one half mile in 45 minutes the group phoned 911 for assistance.

Members of Tamworth Fire Department, Sandwich Fire Department along with SOLO students and Conservation Officers totaling 28 people responded. Rescuers met Melissa nearly 2.5 miles up the Blueberry Ledge Trail. She was placed in a litter and carried out and arrived at the trailhead shortly after 10:30 PM.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Snowmobile Crash Injures Woman

ALBANY, NH - On Monday, February 26th at approximately 11:30 AM New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified that a snowmobile had crashed on the Meadow Brook Trail in Albany. The operator was Sandra Perkins, 52 of North Fort Myers Florida. Sandra failed to negotiate a downhill left hand turn in the trail and went off the right hand side of the trail and came to rest in a ditch. She suffered an injury to her wrist and leg. Her adult daughter was a passenger and was uninjured.

A guide from Northern Extreme snowmobile rental responded with a rescue sled and met members of Conway Fire and Rescue at the crash scene. Sandra was transported out on the rescue sled and arrived at the waiting ambulance shortly before 12:30 PM. She was taken by ambulance to the Memorial Hospital in North Conway for treatment.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Man Injured in Lincoln Snowmobile Crash

LINCOLN, NH - At 2:10 pm on February 25, 2018 the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a snowmobile accident that occurred in Lincoln, NH. and dispatched a Conservation Officer to respond. Gregg Rodenhiser, 56, of Haverhill, MA, was operating a snowmobile as the last rider in a group of three along the Corridor 11 trail close to the Flume in Franconia Notch State Park. The other members of his riding party sat at an intersection for Mr. Rodenhiser and after waiting a few minutes for his arrival turned around to look for him. He was discovered off his snowmobile thrown against a tree a short distance away. First responders from the Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Fire Department, and Linwood Ambulance Service provided first aid at the scene. Mr. Rodenhiser was then transported to Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth where initial assessment and treatment began. Due to the severity of his injuries, Mr. Rodenhiser was transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon for additional treatment.

Conservation Officers with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department are still investigating the accident in order to determine a cause but drugs and alcohol are not considered to be a factor.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Two Snowmobilers Rescued in Clarksville

CLARKSVILLE, NH - Two New Hampshire snowmobilers were rescued Saturday night, after one of their machines broke down and the other ran out of gas on Trail 130 in a remote section of Clarksville.

New Hampshire Conservation Officers received a 911 call at approximately 8:25 PM from Colebrook Dispatch, reporting that Jeremy Creeden, 41 of Deerfield, and Richard Chandonnet, 54, of Manchester, had left their machines "off-trail" and had been walking for a significant period. Officers utilized GPS coordinates generated by the 911 cell phone call, and responded to the area of Whipple Ridge on snowmobiles.

Upon arrival at the estimated coordinates, Officers located boot tracks and evidence of a small fire where the two men had been waiting at a trail junction. At approximately 10:15 PM, while investigating the surrounding area, Creeden and Chandonnet returned to the location, after being given rides and spare fuel from two unrelated snowmobilers.

After interviewing the operators, it was determined that the men had reported to 911 that their incapacitated machines had been pulled "off the trail" for safety purposes, and that they had not been operating "off trail".

Conservation Officers led the men back to fuel pumps in Pittsburg, where they were staying at a private camp.

Creeden and Chandonnet planned to return the following morning to retrieve the broken-down snowmobile.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Injured Ice Climber Rescued on Mt. Willard

CRAWFORD NOTCH - On February 23, 2018 at approximately 2:24 p.m. New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified by 911 that an injured ice climber was in need of rescue on Mt. Willard in Crawford Notch. It was reported that the injured climber had fallen approximately 20 feet, was suspended on a rope and had multiple injuries.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers responded along with members of Bartlett Fire Rescue services, Twin Mountain Fire Rescue services and Mountain Rescue Service (MRS). Due to the technical difficulty of the rescue MRS was used to locate access, stabilize and transport the injured climber.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 when Tom Boydston, 64 years old from Center Conway was climbing the Monkey Wrench route on Mt. Willard. He fell approximately 20 feet and was unable to extract himself due to multiple injuries. His climbing partners along with other climbers in the area were able to lower him to a safe area until rescue arrived. The rescue was delayed due to the technical difficulty of the terrain combined with high winds, sleet, rain and darkness.

Boydston and the rescuers from MRS arrived at the parking area on Route 302 at 7:35 p.m. Boydston was transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway by Bartlett Ambulance.

One Injured in Snowmobile Crash

BERLIN, NH - A Massachusetts woman suffered serious injuries after she crashed her rental snowmobile on Corridor 19 in the town of Berlin. The crash occurred around 10:00 AM and was reported to authorities via a 911 call.

Rescue personnel responded from Berlin Fire Department, Berlin EMS and Gorham EMS. Tracked Rescue UTV's from both Berlin Fire and Gorham were utilized to access the accident scene which was approximately 1.5 miles north of the junction of Smitty's Trail.

The victim, identified as Rhonda Ward, 49, of Rowley, MA had been operating north on Corridor 19 when she went off the side of the trail and crashed into a tree. Ward was extracted from the scene by rescue personnel and driven out on the Berlin Rescue UTV to an awaiting ambulance. She was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital (AVH) in Berlin where she is being treated for what is described as serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Massachusetts Man Seriously Injured in Twin Mountain Snowmobile Crash

TWIN MOUNTAIN, NH - Rescue personnel from multiple agencies converged on the Mill Brook area of Twin Mountain today to assist a man who sustained serious injuries as a result of a snowmobile crash.

At approximately 11:30 AM, Chad Beattie, 38, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts lost control of his rented snowmobile on the Corridor 11 snowmobile trail approximately one mile east of Cherry Mountain Road. As a result of losing control, Chad and his snowmobile went off of the trail, down an embankment and struck a large tree. Chad sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash but fortunately was located very quickly by other members of his riding party. Chad was assisted by his companions back to the trail and a call for help was placed to their snowmobile rental company. Upon receiving the call, the rental company contacted a New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officer directly to start a rescue response.

As a result of the call for help, rescue personnel from the Twin Mountain Fire Department, Jefferson Fire Department, Twin Mountain Police Department and New Hampshire Fish and Game Department responded to the scene. A Conservation Officer who was on snowmobile patrol in the area was able to locate the crash scene and transport Chad out of the woods to Cherry Mountain Road. Once roadside, Chad was taken by Twin Mountain Ambulance to a landing zone that was established on Route 115 in the town of Jefferson. Chad was subsequently transported by DHART helicopter from Route 115 to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon for further evaluation and treatment of injuries.

The cause of this crash is still under investigation.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Vehicle Through the Ice at Lake Winnipesaukee

MEREDITH, NH - At approximately 5:15 p.m. New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified that a motor vehicle was reported to have gone through the ice on Lake Winnipesaukee in the vicinity of Stone Dam Island in Meredith.

Residents on Edgewater Drive on Governors Island called 911 when they observed a motor vehicle on Lake Winnipesaukee suddenly go through the ice. They reported the location in the vicinity of Stone Dam Island in the area of a pressure ridge midway between the two islands. New Hampshire Fish Game Conservation Officers responded along with members of the Meredith Fire Department. A hole in the ice was found with debris along the edges and a vehicle could be seen suspended in approximately 10 feet of water. The vehicle was a Jeep Liberty and the registration came back to Alex Plummer, 59 years old of Center Harbor.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. an anonymous 911 call came in stating that the owner of the vehicle that had gone through the ice was unharmed and at a friend's house in Meredith recovering from his ordeal. Further investigation revealed that a snowmobile was in the area when the accident occurred and the operator of the snowmobile gave Plummer a ride to Meredith. No other details are available at this time.

This incident is a good reminder to all people recreating on the ice to use caution. Ice conditions are often unpredictable and change from day to day. When recreating on the ice you should inspect the depth and quality of ice and be prepared in the event you go though. Safety items should be on hand such as ice picks, throw ropes and flotation devices.

Woman Injured in Haverhill Snowmobile Crash

HAVERHILL, NH - At 10:20 am on February 18, 2018 the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a snowmobile accident that occurred in North Haverhill, NH and dispatched a Conservation Officer to respond. Sandra Fitts, 57, of Haverhill, NH, was operating a snowmobile along the Corridor 5 snowmobile trail close to New Hampshire Route 10 when she did not properly navigate a bridge that spanned a narrow field stream. Her snowmobile left the trail and struck the opposite bank of the stream, which caused her to be thrown from the snowmobile. First responders from The North Haverhill Fire Department, Woodsville Rescue Ambulance and the Haverhill Police Department were easily able reach the accident scene and began initial treatment of Mrs. Fitts's injuries. She was evacuated to Cottage Hospital in Woodsvile, NH where she was treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Saturday, February 17

Massachusetts Woman Injured in Snowmobile Incident

WENTWORTH LOCATION, NH - At approximately 2:20 PM on Saturday, February 17, emergency personnel responded to a snowmobile incident on the Skyview Trail in the area of Greenough Pond Road in Wentworth's Location.

A New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officer investigated the incident, stating that Susan Button, 57, of East Brookfield, MA, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, after being thrown to the hard surface of the trail while attempting to make a turn at a road crossing.

Errol Fire and Rescue personnel reached the scene and determined that Errol Ambulance could drive directly to the patient, by use of a plowed logging road. Button was transported from the scene by Errol Ambulance and taken to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook for further evaluation and treatment.

Statements obtained by Button and a riding companion indicated that she had lost control of the machine at an icy intersection, when the track slid sideways, caught an edge and tossed her to the ground. The snowmobile was not damaged, and Button had been wearing a helmet and eye protection.

Investigation determined that Button only had a couple of hours of experience on the snowmobile she had been operating, and that inexperience with operating the new machine appeared to be the primary factor leading to the incident.

Updated 4/9/18