Man dies in fatal sled, moose crash

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HAMMOND — Speed was the likely cause of a fatal accident that killed Leon Botting Sr., 51, when he hit a moose on a snowmobile trail west of Houlton last Friday afternoon, according to Maine Warden Service Sgt. Dan Menard. “It was an average size moose. You’re talking about an animal that’s maybe 500-700 pounds,” said Menard. He observed that Botting and the moose had been thrown off the trail due to the impact and both were dead at the scene.
    The New Limerick man was snowmobiling on Shaw Camp Trail in Hammond Township behind two friends, Brian Nickerson, 53, of Houlton and Mike Britton, 40, also of New Limerick, according to Menard. “When Botting did not come up behind him, Britton went to check on him and then Britton called the State Police Barracks,” said Menard. The incident was reported at 2:05 p.m., and is under investigation.
    Botting was wearing a helmet and riding a Yamaha snowmobile, according to Menard who added that “Houlton Fire and Rescue were the first on scene.” Andrew Smart, Kevin Pelkey, Ben Drew, Alan Dudley and Eric Rudolph, all of the Maine Warden Service, also responded.
    This was the first fatal snowmobile accident this year, according to Lt. Thomas Ward of the Maine Warden Service. With several outdoor activities scheduled throughout the state over the coming weekend, Ward is urging snowmobilers to exercise caution, drive at reasonable speeds and leave room to break if wildlife step onto trails.