HANCOCK, Maine — A local man who died after a go-cart accident in a pumpkin festival parade was remembered Sunday by one of his Shriner colleagues and co-workers as a kind man always willing to help others.

Marvin Tarbox Jr., 59, was one of several members of the Bangor-based Anah Temple Shriners who were driving go-carts in the Damariscotta Pumpkin Fest Parade in Newcastle on Saturday when he was fatally injured after his go-cart toppled to the ground.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, a ramp that carried the go-carts over a sport utility vehicle apparently failed while Tarbox was driving over.

Tarbox’s go-cart then flipped over and toppled onto onto the pavement, where he was struck by at least two other go-cart drivers who didn’t realize what had happened, police said. Several hundred people were attending the parade when the crash occurred.

Tarbox, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to Miles Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Joe Kitchen, president of the Hancock County Shrine Club and a co-worker of Tarbox’s, estimated that he had known the Hancock man for about 30 years.

“Marvin was a real nice man, a very well-liked Shriner,” Kitchen said. “We are all kind of devastated over it.”

Created more than 90 years ago, the Anah Temple Shriner organization is part of Shriners International, a fraternal organization that supports 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children. The hospitals provide treatment to children with burns, orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries as well as cleft lip and palate regardless of the family’s ability to pay, according to the organization’s website.

The Shriner go-carts are a popular addition to many parades in Maine. Shriners drive miniature cars sometimes adorned like NASCAR stock cars around and over a ramp arched over a vehicle.

Kitchen said Tarbox, like many Shriners, wanted to give back to the community.

“He was always there to help,” he said. “Just a very pleasant man.”

Saturday’s accident remains under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reprinted with permission from the Bangor Daily News.

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