The Maine Warden Service says three separate ATV accidents on Saturday left three men dead.

The first accident happened approximately 10:00 Saturday morning, when a 32-year-old Readfield man died after losing control of his ATV in the Forks, and flipping it. Joshua Violette was fifth in a group of nine ATV's on the Divide Road, when he hit a depression in the road and lost control of his Polaris Sportsman 500. Violette died at the scene. His passenger, 33-year-old Ashlie Dostie of Mt. Vernon suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Reddington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan. Neither Dostie or Violette were wearing helmets.

Just after 10:30 in the morning, 69-year-old Roland Robitaille of Freedom was killed when he was thrown from his ATV while riding on a trail in Solon. Robitaille was second in a line of seven ATV's riding on a trail behind the Solon Road in Anson, when he lost control of his Yamaha Grizzly, rolled it, and was thrown off. Wardens say Robitaille, who was not wearing a helmet, was found face down in the trail by the ATV riders following in his group. He suffered severe trauma to his head and chest and passed away before first responders could arrive.

Officials say the third accident happened at approximately 5:30 Saturday night in Lang Township. 29-year-old Tyler Curry, of Groton, Massachusetts, was riding alone on a private access road, after leaving a group he had been riding with earlier. Just before he arrived at a bridge, Curry exited a left turn and his ATV started sliding toward the edge of the road at a high rate of speed. He straddled the outside edge of the bridge before sliding off and into the river. Wardens say he was not wearing a helmet and it appears he was thrown from the ATV, as it fell. He died at the scene. Officials say speed appears to have been a factor in the accident.

Corporal John MacDonald, of the Maine Warden Service, reminds all ATV riders to:

  • Always wear a helmet
  • Always maintain control of the ATV
  • Always ride sober
  • Stay on marked trails

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