Standish man hospitalized after sled crash

TOWNSHIP 6 RANGE 8 – A Standish man was listed in critical condition late Friday afternoon at Houlton Regional Hospital with injuries he suffered in a snowmobile accident.

Charles Weber, 42, was to be transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, a hospital spokesperson at Houlton said.

Weber was riding a 2000 Polaris XC 700 in a group of seven snowmobiles shortly before 11 a.m. in northern Penobscot County when he rolled his snowmobile over.

Details of what happened were sketchy Friday afternoon.

Warden Chris Dyer said Weber was the third rider in the group traveling north on Interconnecting Trail System Route 85, about 11/2 miles west of Huber Road. The trail followed part of a woods road and then cut sharply to the right.

The first snowmobile in the group missed the turn and went straight, throwing up a lot of snow and obscuring the vision of drivers behind, including Weber.

After the accident, one of the snowmobilers rode seven miles back to the Matagamon Wilderness Store and called 911.

The Patten Fire Department used its rescue sled to bring Weber out of the woods.

After assessing Weber’s condition, emergency medical technicians with the Patten Ambulance Service requested that a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter or a helicopter from the 112th Medical Company of the Maine Army National Guard stationed in Bangor be dispatched.

The helicopters were grounded Friday morning because of snow in the Bangor area. Weber subsequently was taken by ground ambulance more than 60 miles to a hospital in Houlton.

Dyer did not know the extent of Weber’s injuries, but he said Weber appeared to have suffered injuries in his chest area. Weber was wearing a helmet.

Damage to the Weber’s snowmobile was about $1,000, according to Dyer.

The group with whom Weber was riding was staying in Millinocket after arriving in the area on Thursday, the warden said.