WELLINGTON – The body of a local man who died Sunday night in an all-terrain vehicle accident was discovered later that night by chance when a passing motorist stopped to investigate a light he had seen in a clump of trees.

Police think that Daniel Carlson, 43, of Wellington may have died between 8 and 8:30 p.m. when his all-terrain vehicle left Huff’s Corner Road, hit a ditch and struck two large rocks. The tracks left behind indicated that Carlson had narrowly missed a telephone pole before he hit the rocks and was thrown from the vehicle into some trees, according to Investigator Allen Emerson of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department.

The all-terrain vehicle was found on top of Carlson’s body. The victim appeared to have landed face down on the ground. He was not wearing a helmet.

Alan Boillard, 18, of Wellington discovered the accident scene at 9:15 p.m. when he stopped his motor vehicle to find the source of a light he could see from the road.

The light was from a taillight of Carlson’s 2002 Polaris Sportman all-terrain vehicle, Emerson said. Boillard then went to the nearest residence on the road and asked the occupants to notify police.

Emerson said his investigation indicated that Carlson had been riding his all-terrain vehicle on the road when he apparently took a sharp right before leaving the road. The force of the crash ripped an axle off the vehicle.

It is unknown whether an autopsy will be conducted on Carlson, but Emerson said alcohol was a factor in the accident.

The Maine Warden Service, Wellington firefighters and Harmony Ambulance assisted the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.