Teen Flown To Maine For Treatment After Injury On UTV In New Hampshire

DIXVILLE, NH — A teen who was a passenger on a UTV was flown to Maine for treatment after being injured on a riding trail in Dixville on Sunday.

Jamie Johnston of Nashua was operating a four-seater with three youth passengers on Dixie Brook Road as part of a group of four UTVs on the trail, the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department said. While driving, she struck a bump that was “abrupt and unexpected,” and led to a 13-year-old, who was a rear passenger of the vehicle, becoming injured, Eric Fluette, a conservation officer, said.

“Johnston didn’t experience any loss of control from the bump and continued to operate on the trail until she was notified by her passengers that one of them … had sustained a possible injury,” he said. “Once aware, she immediately pulled over and assessed the youth.”

The three other UTVs in the area turned around after realizing they had lost part of their group around 12:30 p.m. They rendered aid while others went to get assistance since there was no cellphone service in the area.

Later, Errol fire and rescue teams as well as conservation officers headed to the area. Firefighters were “able to respond directly to the location of the UTV with the injured youth,” he said. Conservation officers, who were out patrolling on a UTV in the area, responded directly, he said.

“From this location, the youth was transported by Errol Rescue to Errol Airport where the youth was transferred to a DHART helicopter,” Fluette said. “The youth was flown to Maine Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries.”

Fluette said the injured teen was wearing a helmet, eye protection, and using a seatbelt, adding, “conservation officers would like to use this incident to remind OHRV users of the importance of all occupants utilizing safety equipment when out recreating.”

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