'North Woods Law' Officer Seriously Injured When Struck By OHRV

DUMMER, NH — A New Hampshire Fish & Game conservation officer was working speed enforcement on an OHRV trail in Dummer Saturday suffered serious injuries after being struck by an Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV).

Officials said Matthew Holmes, 38, of Whitefield was running stationary radar on Dummer Pond Road, a road that is open to both OHRVs and conventional motor vehicles, when the accident occurred.

The speed limit for this particular trail is 25 mph and Holmes was attempting to stop two OHRVs that were traveling at a high rate of speed when he was struck from behind by a third OHRV — also traveling at excessive speed. The accident occurred shortly after 5 p.m.

As a result of the collision, Holmes was ejected from his patrol All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and landed several feet from the impact site. Conservation Officer Robert Mancini, who had been working with Holmes, rendered aid by dragging Holmes from the middle of the busy trail while also calling for emergency medical help.

While awaiting EMS response, Mancini was assisted by several riders who came upon the scene and identified themselves as emergency medical technicians.

The operator and passenger of the OHRV that struck Holmes were uninjured in the crash.

Holmes is featured on the North Woods Law program.

Holmes was transported from the scene by Gorham Ambulance and taken to Androscoggin Valley Hospital (AVH) in Berlin. The injured Officer was then flown via a University of Vermont Health Network Critical Care Transport helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine.

This incident remains under investigation by New Hampshire State Police.