Snowmobiling accident injures Fort Kent youth

FORT KENT — A Fort Kent youth was hospitalized with back injuries Tuesday, after being thrown from the snowmobile he was driving.

A Warden Service official said Ryan N. Raymond, 17, of Fort Kent was traveling south on a snowmobile trail which runs along a side street just west of downtown Fort Kent at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, when he hit a shallow diversion ditch and was thrown from the machine.

An eyewitness said Raymond was thrown about 50 feet.

He was taken to Northern Maine Medical Center, where he was hospitalized for back injuries.

The accident was attributed to driving “too fast in unfamiliar surroundings.” The official said Raymond was traveling at about 60 mph when the snowmobile hit the ditch.

There was no damage to the snowmobile and no charges will be filed.