Dean Dunton left the derby Sunday night without a fish, without hope for the truck, and with a mashed-up car after a renegade snowmobile landed on the roof.
Dunton’s blue Subaru hatchback was the point of impact for an 800 cc Arctic Cat that launched off a snow bank and sailed over the rack of a Chevrolet truck. After the machine plopped onto his car, Dunton said the snowmobile bounced onto the hood of another truck before hitting the ice.
“The thing was upside down still wide open,” said Tom Dunn, Dunton’s friend.
Ice fishermen from neighboring shacks said they heard mayhem and a throttle on high, then saw the snowmobile on its back after the crash.
No one was hurt in the accident. Dunn said an 8-year-old boy was operating the machine when the throttle apparently got stuck open. Dunton said the boy jumped off the machine while it continued to accelerate.
Robin Williams at Richardson’s Boat Yard in Windham, which sells snowmobiles, said a throttle stuck open is a rare sight.
“I haven’t heard of one freezing for a long time,” said Williams.
Snowmobiles have several safety features to prevent runaway machines, including kill switches and safety cords. The operator of the machine could not be contacted for comment.
Dunton’s car is now short several windows that blew out as the roof was crushed. He said his insurance won’t cover the damage.
Michael Hartwell contributed to this report.
Dean Dunton next to his destroyed Subaru. A renegade snowmobile landed on the car after launching off a snow bank and over a truck on Sunday.Send questions/comments to the editors.
