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January 28, 2011
Augusta, Maine - Leon Botting Sr., 51, of Limerick,
Maine died Friday afternoon (Jan. 28) when he hit a moose with his
snowmobile at an apparent high rate of speed on a snowmobile trail
west of Houlton.
Mr. Botting was the last of three snowmobilers traveling on Shaw
Camp Trail in Hammond Township on Friday afternoon, according to
Maine Warden Service Sgt. Dan Menard.
His friends, Brian Nickerson, 53, of Houlton and Mike Britton, 40,
of New Limerick had traveled ahead of Mr. Botting. They stopped,
looked back at the trail for Mr. Botting, and after a short period
of time decided to back-track the trail to find him.
The moose had walked onto the trail and Mr. Botting was unable to
stop. Mr. Botting and the moose both were thrown off the trail
upon impact. The snowmobiler and the moose died at the scene.
Mr. Botting was wearing a helmet. Speed and the animal on the
trail are likely causes.
The incident was reported at 2:05 p.m., and is under
investigation.
MWS Game Wardens Andrew Smart, Kevin Pelkey, Ben Drew, Alan Dudley
and Eric Rudolph, and Houlton Fire and Rescue also responded
With a number of outdoor activities scheduled throughout the state
this weekend, the Maine Warden Service reminds snowmobilers to
drive at a reasonable speed according to conditions and to have
enough room to brake if obstacles such as wildlife appear on the
trails.
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