A crash between a boat and a SeaDoo on Saturday left a man in critical condition, according to North Lakes Fire & Rescue.
The injured man is 25-year-old Evan Pelkey, North Lakes Chief Darren Woods confirmed Monday.
Few other details about the crash are available because the Maine Warden Service is investigating, Woods said.
North Lakes, which covers northern Aroostook’s lakeside communities, was one of several agencies to respond to the collision. It received the call at 7:15 p.m. and responded with two engines and a utility vehicle with 12 personnel. Ambulance services in both Fort Kent and Madawaska also pitched in.
Woods said he could not provide the identity of the other motorist or confirm if Pelkey was driving the boat or SeaDoo.
A series of coincidences likely saved Pelkey’s life, Woods said.
Immediately after the crash, the other driver brought Pelkey to the Long Lake Sporting Club just off the shore. Two nurses luckily happened to be in the building at that time and assisted with Pelkey’s care.
“So many things fell into place,” Woods said. “My crew was just coming back from the Caribou Cares about Kids parade and getting into the area. And they were already in the truck, so the response was immediate.”
Pelkey was transported to Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent and then flown to Bangor.
Community members have launched a GoFundMe drive on public social media for the injured man.
Pelkey suffered an injury to an arm that was broken in two places and severed, according to the fundraiser page. Surgeons in Bangor reattached the arm. He also suffered facial cuts and damage to a leg.
Close to $5,000 has been raised so far in less than a day. Pelkey and his parents may be in Bangor for months as he recovers, the fundraiser page stated.
Correction: A headline on a previous version of this story misstated Pelkey’s injuries.
