Contact: Mark Latti, MDIFW Communications Director, 287-5216, 592-1339 (cell) mark.latti@maine.gov

Game Warden Pilot Locates Three Anglers Stranded Northwest Of Rangeley

PARKERTOWN TWP, Maine – Maine Game Warden Chief Pilot Jeff Beach located three missing anglers this morning after the trio had spent last night in their vehicle after it became stuck in the deep snow on the Lincoln Pond Road near Azischos Lake northwest of Rangeley.

Samuel Luebbert, Jessica Haskell, and Chad Mason, all 23-years-old and from Portland, were reported as overdue by family this morning after they had failed to return home and family were unable to reach them by cell phone. The group had traveled to the area for a day of fishing but their four-wheel drive vehicle got stuck on an uplowed portion of the Lincoln Pond Road.

Game wardens and members of Rangeley Police, Franklin Sheriff’s Office, Rangeley Fire and US Border Patrol began searching the area this morning. Warden Chief Pilot Jeff Beach searched from the air and located the vehicle at 11:00 this morning. Game Warden Mike Pierre and four US Border Patrol agents rode snowmobiles and drove one truck into their location and used a winch to free the stuck vehicle. All three were in good health after spending the night in the vehicle, and once unstuck, they were able to drive back to Portland today.

Attached Aerial photo courtesy of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The stuck vehicle is indicated by red arrow.

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