AUGUSTA – Two men are in critical condition at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor after being involved in two separate snowmobile incidents, according to the Maine Warden Service.

On Friday evening, Glen F. Zona, 40, of Worcester, Mass., was riding on the extreme left side of a trail behind the Border Riders Snowmobile Club in Dennistown toward Route 201 when one of his machine’s skis went off the trail. Dennistown is northwest of Jackman.

Zona was riding with four others from Massachusetts and Connecticut. His snowmobile went airborne and traveled approximately 47 feet before he and the sled landed on the edge of the trail, according to Warden James Babiarz.

Zona was impaled by a tree root about 11/2 to 2 inches in diameter but didn’t realize his injury until after he removed himself from the root and fell onto the trail, Babiarz said.

The root went 6 inches into Zona’s body but not all the way through him, Deborah Turcotte, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said Sunday.

One of Zona’s fellow riders headed toward Route 201 and flagged down a Border Patrol agent who called for the Maine Warden Service. Babiarz said he was nearby, and when he was informed of Zona’s injuries, he immediately called for LifeFlight as he headed for the scene. Another Border Patrol agent, who heard the scanner traffic, drove to the scene and applied pressure to Zona’s injuries until he could be taken to the hospital.

Zona first was taken to Jackman Health Center and then by helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center, Babiarz said. He remained in critical condition Saturday night.

“Speed and where they were riding were factors in the incident,” Babiarz said. “They were riding on the extreme left side of the trail because the center side was rough. Also, the trails are extremely slippery right now. It takes so much longer to stop. Riders need to be aware of that.”

Babiarz said Zona was wearing a helmet, T-shirt and pants.

On Saturday afternoon, an Orneville man was critically injured when he hit a tree while riding his snowmobile.

Leo Mitsin, 63, was riding with two friends on Philpot Ridge Road about a half-mile from his house when the incident occurred. According to Warden Sgt. Kevin Adam, Mitsin was attempting to turn where the road becomes a trail, but there was no snow there.

Mitsin hit a stump, was thrown off the snowmobile, and hit his head on a tree, Adam said. He was not wearing a helmet. His friends did not witness the incident; one was driving ahead of him and the other was behind him.

The Milo Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance, Mayo Ambulance and EMTs assisted Mitsin until LifeFlight arrived, Adam said. He was taken by helicopter to EMMC and remained in critical condition.

Warden Mike Boyer is the primary investigator.

“Without the advance care he received in the woods, Mr. Mitsin’s condition could have worsened,” Adam said.

Adam said snowmobilers need to be careful riding in warm weather.

“Anyone snowmobiling right now needs to wear their helmet even though it is warm weather,” he said. “Helmets do more than protect your head from the cold.”

Both incidents remain under investigation.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

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