SUCCESS, N.H. – Authorities on Sunday were searching for a snowmobiler they say hit a Maine dog sledder and left him lying unconscious in the snow and subzero cold.

Stephen Hessert, 51, of Cumberland, Maine, was found by another snowmobiler late Saturday afternoon.

He got Hessert out of the woods, and Hessert was taken to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin. He later was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he was in fair condition Sunday. He was being treated for multiple injuries and at least one broken leg.

Hessert’s dogs apparently were uninjured, but his sled was in pieces.

Fish and Game Sgt. Douglas Gralenski said he had never seen anything like it in his 17-year career. He said Hessert was lucky to be alive.

Details of the incident were not available, but both sledders were going in the same direction, and Hessert was hit from behind, Fish and Game spokesman Tim Acerno said.

Snowmobiles can travel up to 100 mph, while dog sleds go about 15-20 mph. It wasn’t known how fast the two were going before the collision on the Success Pond trail, a logging road in the unincorporated area northeast of Berlin. The trail is a main route between Berlin and Errol.

Acerno said Hessert apparently was heading back to Berlin, about 10 miles away.

Recreational dog sledders use snowmobile trails, though it is recommended they stay off the major routes.

“We have to deal with snowmachines, and snowmachines have to deal with us,” said Andy Norkin, who works at the Appalachian Mountain Club and teaches dog sledding. “Generally, people are pretty good. They get to know us. Snowmobilers are a lot better and courteous than they’ve ever been,” he said.