Crime & Safety
ATV Rollover Seriously Injures Man; Children Escape Injury
Ice contributed to an ATV accident that pinned a Manchester man. Firefighters used ropes to rescue the man under the ATV in the brook.
MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester fire, police, AMR Ambulance, and NH Fish and Game responded to a trail at Pine Island Park on Sunday for an ATV accident.
Donald Smagula, 67, of Manchester, was operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), attempting to access a public body of water to go ice-fishing with his family. Due to the icy conditions combined with a steep downhill slope, Smagula was unable to negotiate a right-hand turn causing the ATV to roll down an embankment onto a frozen stream.
Smagula was trapped under the ATV until rescue personnel arrived after a member of the family called 911.
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Manchester firefighters from Engine 9, and Truck 7 utilized ropes to safely work down the incline to reach the rolled-over ATV. Crews removed the ATV from Smagula and provided medical aid to him. Juvenile passengers on the ATV were also ejected, however, were uninjured.
Firefighters used a rope to lower a stokes basket and loaded the patient, and several firefighters pulled the victim to the top of the incline. Firefighters and AMR medics carried the stokes basket to the waiting ambulance.
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Smagula was transported by Ambulance to Elliot Hospital in Manchester to be treated for his serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
NH Fish and Game remind all riders that with constantly changing temperatures, trails can be extremely icy in certain areas, and regardless of age to always wear appropriate safety gear while operating OHRVs. Smagula was not wearing a helmet — but the juveniles were all wearing the appropriate protective gear.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
