Operator inexperience blamed in fatal Maine snowmobile crash

T1R12, Maine - A 53-year-old Massachusetts woman was killed in a snowmobile crash in Piscataquis County on Friday afternoon.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Stefanie Cappello, 53, of Southborough, Mass., was traveling northbound on snowmobile trail ITS85/86 with a group of nine snowmobiles, heading toward Millinocket. In an area of the trail that turned to the left, Cappello was unable to navigate the turn and went off the right side of the trail, striking a tree after she was ejected from the snowmobile. Cappello was riding eighth in the line of nine snowmobiles.

Cappello was declared deceased at the scene by Northern Light CA Dean Ambulance of Greenville. The initial crash investigation by the Maine Warden Service indicates operator inexperience as a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.