Massachusetts Woman Injured in Snowmobile Crash in Gorham

GORHAM, NH — A woman from Wareham, Massachusetts, was hospitalized Friday afternoon after her snowmobile careened off a steep embankment and collided with a tree.

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials were notified of the accident at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday. The operator, identified as Heather Charpentier, 50, was traveling on Corridor 19 when the incident occurred. According to conservation officers, Charpentier was attempting to navigate a steep section of the trail when she lost control of the vehicle. The snowmobile veered off the groomed path and plunged roughly 50 feet down an embankment. The descent ended abruptly when the machine struck a tree, causing Charpentier to sustain multiple injuries.

The response to the crash was a coordinated effort by several local agencies.

Immediate Aid: Charpentier’s riding companion provided initial medical assistance while "Good Samaritans" on the trail dialed 911.

First Responders: Members of the Gorham Police Department and Gorham Fire & EMS arrived quickly, alongside a New Hampshire conservation officer.

Charpentier was stabilized at the scene before being transported via ambulance to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for further evaluation.

While the investigation into the crash remains ongoing, Fish and Game officials stated that operator inexperience appears to be the primary contributing factor.

"We would like to remind all snowmobile operators to always operate cautiously," a conservation officer noted in a statement following the crash. "Always remain vigilant regarding actual and potential hazards on the trail."

Conditions on New Hampshire trails can change rapidly, particularly on steep terrain, and officials urge riders of all experience levels to maintain speeds that allow for safe maneuvering.