EAST MACHIAS — A four-year-old boy was struck and killed by a side-by-side utility ATV Saturday morning in an accident off Cutler Road in East Machias, according to a press release from the Maine Warden Service.

Warden Service spokesman Cpl. John MacDonald reported that Troy Denison, 37, of Cutler Road was operating his two-seater 2007 Yamaha Rhino 660 UTV with his eight-year-old son at around 10 a.m. As they were driving around their home, an eight-year-old nephew who lived next door ran to Denison and asked for a ride. The nephew got in and they began riding around the Denison home once again.

While riding, the nephew accidentally stepped on the accelerator of the UTV. The machine accelerated and encountered an embankment, causing the machine to roll over. All three passengers in the UTV walked away, although Troy Denison received lacerations to his head. When they assessed the scene, they quickly realized they had rolled over four-year-old Wesley Keeton, a younger brother to the eight-year-old passenger and nephew to Troy Denison. Wesley had been playing nearby and was in the path of the UTV. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Game Warden Sgt. Dave Craven, who responded and helped investigate the scene, stated “this was a tragic incident brought about by very unfortunate circumstances. Our deepest sympathy goes out to both families involved.”

A team of several game wardens, Machias EMS, East Machias Fire and Cutler Navy Fire Department assisted responding to the accident. Both the Medical Examiner’s Office and Washington County District Attorney’s Office have been notified. The incident remains under investigation.

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