Maine DIFW: Snowmobiler Drives into St. John’s River
At approximately 7:00 PM last evening, game wardens responded to a report of two snowmobiles that had gone through the ice on the St. John River in St. Francis. Information indicated one of the subjects was still in the water. Several citizen volunteers and members of the St. Francis Fire Department were assisting on scene. Travis Albert, 28 from St. Francis, was pulled to safety by citizen volunteers as game wardens arrived.
Both Albert and his friend Joshua Jandreau, 28 and also from St. Francis, had been traveling upriver by snowmobile on separate machines when they drove onto unstable ice near an open channel. Albert did not make it across and became submerged in the water. Albert’s Yamaha Phazer became stuck and was held up by the ice flow. Jandreau was able to go call for help and returned to show rescue personnel where Albert had been clinging to the ice pack for over 20 minutes.
Albert was transported by ambulance to Northern Maine Medical Center where he was treated for hypothermia and a broken rib. Albert was subsequently taken into custody for several outstanding arrest warrants. This case remains under investigation.
