Rental UTV Launched Into Brook After High-Speed Crash in Berlin State Park; Malden, MA Man Charged

BERLIN, N.H. — A Massachusetts man faces multiple charges after launching a rental utility terrain vehicle (UTV) roughly 20 feet into a brook following a high-speed crash Saturday morning at Jericho Mountain State Park, authorities said.

New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified of the incident around 9:00 a.m. on October 10, 2026, along the Brook Road Trail. A state Conservation Officer responded to the scene to conduct an investigation.

According to officials, 45-year-old Moacir Henrique of Malden, Massachusetts, was operating a rental UTV recklessly while riding within a large group of off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRVs). As the group approached a sharp bend in the trail at a high rate of speed, Henrique failed to negotiate the turn and struck a large cluster of rocks. The impact launched the vehicle approximately 20 feet through the air before it crashed into a brook below.

Despite the severe damage to the rental machine, Henrique and other members of the riding party escaped injury.

The remote location and severe vehicle damage required an extensive extraction effort. Crews from Trail Tow UTV Recovery and Northeast ATV Rentals spent several hours on the scene executing the technical recovery needed to pull the submerged UTV from the brook.

Investigators cited reckless operation and unreasonable speed as the primary causes of the wreck. Henrique was subsequently charged with operating an OHRV in a manner that endangers persons or property, as well as operating at an unreasonable speed.

In the wake of the crash, Fish and Game Conservation Officers reminded all riders that state trails are shared recreational spaces used by families and outdoors enthusiasts alike. Officials emphasized that group riding combined with excessive speed frequently leads to preventable crashes, and urged all operators to ride within their skill levels, observe safe speeds, and operate with due regard for trail conditions.