By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
CARIBOU, Maine — A Caribou man well-known for his decades of volunteerism died on Oct. 22 of injuries sustained during an ATV crash on Oct. 12.
Marvin Hedstrom, 76, was driving his ATV southbound on the rail bed in New Sweden around 1:10 p.m. just south of the Rista Road crossing, according to District Game Warden Ryan Fitzpatrick. Hedstrom struck a washed out area of the trail and overcorrected, causing his ATV to roll several times before coming to rest in a small beaver flowage.
Fitzpatrick stated that Hedstrom was ejected and landed in the trail, suffering severe head and internal injuries and was flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center, where he died three days later. Hedstrom had been traveling by himself at the time of the crash and was not wearing a helmet; Fitzpatrick also added that the incident is under investigation.
City officials and friends remembered Hedstrom during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
“I would like to apprise the council and public that it’s a sad day today, we have lost one of Caribou’s premier volunteers to the snowmobile industry, the gentleman has given five decades or more of service to the community — unbelieveable volunteer hours — and last year Marvin Hedstrom was recognized, with Dwight Stickles, who has given equally as much to the industry in Caribou, the Spirit of Caribou Award, and we’re very happy he received that.” said Caribou Parks and Recreation Superintendent Kathy Mazzuchelli. “But unfortunately, Marvin passed today and he will be sincerely missed by all of us.”
Caribou City Councilor Kenneth Murchison also had fond things to say of Hedstrom.
“I’ve worked with Marvin over the years as well, you won’t find a more decent person or a nicer man,” Murchison said. “He’s going to be missed — he’s a friend of the city and you don’t find quality people like that every day,” he said.
