CHAPMAN – Three local boys suffered bone fractures and a grueling, half-mile walk out of the woods after their snowmobiles hit the edge of a gravel pit and dropped 15 feet into the hole, according to Game Warden Alan Dudley of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The teens, each about 15 or 16 years old, were traveling on Friday afternoon near the West Chapman Road in Chapman at the time of the accident, Dudley said Tuesday.

The teens’ snowmobiles left the edge of a gravel pit one by one, were airborne for about 25 feet, then dropped about 15 feet into a pile at the bottom of the pit, Dudley said.

One of the boys received fractures to his back and hands, another had a broken ankle and the third suffered leg and elbow injuries, Dudley said.

If all three had not been wearing helmets, their injuries would have been worse, he said.

The Maine Warden Service received a call at about 5:30 p.m. Friday from the father of one of the teenagers. The father reported that his son was involved in an accident in the woods and had used a cell phone to call for help. Because of poor service, the father was unable to identify the exact location of the accident.

An ambulance and emergency and rescue officials headed for the West Chapman Road to respond to the accident report.

Despite their injuries, the boys walked about half a mile out of the woods to get back to the road. By the time they reached the roadway, a member of the Maine State Police had arrived on the scene to find the teens.

The three were taken to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, were treated and later released on Friday night.

The game warden cautioned area residents that during the snowmobiling season, it is important for everyone to wear a helmet, avoid speeding and become familiar with trails.

Dudley said the accident was caused by the drivers’ unfamiliarity with the trails and machines. The investigation into the accident is closed and there will be no prosecution, the game warden said.