LEWISTON – Two juveniles were seriously injured Wednesday after toppling down a hill while riding on the back of ATVs.
The accident occurred about 11:10 a.m. on Belanger Farm at Cotton and Pine Woods roads.
Miranda Pomerleau, 16, was driving one of the ATVs with a 17-year-old passenger. Her 12-year-old brother, Josh Pomerleau, was driving the other vehicle with another 12-year-old on the back.
According to Maine Game Warden Richard Stone, the four juveniles had driven the ATVs on the property in the past and were familiar with the terrain.
They ran into trouble after failing to notice that gravel had been hauled from one side of a large hill they had driven up many times.
“They thought they were going to go up the hill and go down it as they had done before,” Stone said. “But when they got to the crest of the hill, there was no other side to it.”
Neither driver was able to stop in time. The two passengers suffered the most severe injuries.
The 17-year-old broke his shoulder, collarbone and four ribs and suffered a collapsed lung, and the 12-year-old ruptured his spleen, Stone said.
Miranda Pomerleau suffered bruises, and her brother was not injured, Stone added. Police declined to release the names of the injured passengers due to their ages. Both were being treated at Central Maine Medical Center, Stone said.
All four juveniles were wearing helmets. Under Maine law, a person must be 16 or older to operate an ATV. No charges are pending, Stone said.
The game warden added that the owner of the farm had given the youths permission to ride on his property.
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