Man hurt on ATV while avoiding deer

CARY PLANTATION – A Hodgdon man is in serious condition at Eastern Maine Medical Center after he flipped his four-wheeler to avoid hitting a deer, Sgt. Mike Marshall of the Maine Warden Service said Monday.

Lewis “Shane” Farra, 27, of Hodgdon was taken Sunday to the Bangor hospital for treatment of serious injuries, though the game warden was unsure what the injuries entailed.

Farra was operating a 2004 Polaris four-wheeler on an ATV trail near the Wilcox Road in Cary Plantation when a deer reportedly jumped in front of his vehicle.

Farra tried to miss the deer and the ATV’s left front wheel hit the edge of the trail and upset, Marshall said.

The ATV flipped end over end and landed farther down the trail. Farra called the Maine State Police on his cell phone at 3:51 p.m. for help.

“The fact that he was able to call for help was good, because it probably would have been awhile before anyone came down that trail,” Marshall said.

The state police sent the Houlton fire and ambulance departments as well as the Maine Warden Service to the accident site. Forest Ranger George Harris, who happened to be in the area, also went to the accident scene, rendering aid until the ambulance arrived.

Farra went into shock as he was waiting for the ambulance to arrive. He was taken to Houlton Regional Hospital and, after he was stabilized, he was taken by ambulance to EMMC.

Marshall said the crash damaged the front and rear of the ATV, but no damage estimate was available.

An investigation is under way by lead officer Warden Troy Dauphinee. Marshall is assisting in the investigation.

No charges are pending in the accident, Marshall said.