Staff Writer
A local snowmobile shop owner was killed last week in a snowmobile accident in New Sweden, according to state police.
Contributed photoLarry Doody, 55, died Feb. 29, in a snowmobile accident in New Sweden. He was the owner of Doody’s Sled Shop in Caribou
Larry Doody, 55, died when his snowmobile crashed into a car on the Jemtland Road on Friday at 10:46 p.m., police said.
Doody was operating an Artic Cat 1000 south on ITS 83 when he failed to stop at the road crossing and struck a 1997 Chevy Lumina, driven by Joshua Burden, 27, of New Sweden, police said. The snowmobile was traveling at a “high rate of speed,” according to investigators.
Doody, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the sled and was pronounced dead at the scene. Burden and his passenger were not injured, police said.
Both the car and the snowsled were considered a total loss.
Doody was the owner of Doody’s Sled Shop in Caribou. According to his obituary, he died doing what he loved best — “going fast on his snowsled.”
Most recently, Doody organized the snowmobile drag races that were part of the Caribou Winter Carnival last month.
“He was one of those people that we know, no matter when you asked them or what you asked them, they would tell you ‘yes,’” said Wendy Landes, director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the carnival’s organizer. “He was always someone to say ‘yes.’ ”
Landes said that when this year’s carnival was being planned and a snowmobile event was being considered, organizers wondered about who could “pull it off.”
“Larry was one that we could count on to help,” Landes said. “He put that together.”
Landes said that Doody also wanted a function during the drag races that would raise funds for kids. An activity was planned that generated revenue toward construction of a Boy Scouts building in Caribou.
An enthusiastic snowmobile and NASCAR racing fan, Doody spent time racing at Spud Speedway and also volunteered for local charities.
He was a longtime member of the Lions Club and served as its president.
Doody is survived by a son, Jason Doody, and his wife Jen, of Vancouver, Wash., a grandson, Cameron Ouellette and a sister, Linda Pelletier and her husband, Sonny, of Mapleton. He also is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins, and many close friends.
Contributed photo
Larry Doody organized the snowmobile drag races held during the Caribou Winter Carnival last month. Doody, who passed away last week in a snowmobile accident, was a volunteer that people could count on, according to Wendy Landes, director of the Caribou Chamber of Commere and Industry.
