Millinocket teen was Maine’s 1st moose crash fatality since 2020

Tuesday’s fatal moose crash was the first in Maine in four years.

Landon Gardner, 17, of Millinocket, died after he hit a moose in northern Penobscot County. He was an avid outdoorsman who was always smiling, his family told the Bangor Daily News Friday.

“It’s tragic,” Maine State Police Lt. Aaron Turcotte said. “A 17-year-old should never be killed in a motor vehicle crash, never.”

Before Tuesday, Maine’s last fatal moose crash was in October 2020 when Joel Wortman, 52, died after a three-car crash ended with a moose on top of his vehicle. Prior to that, Donnie Wilcox, 54, died in 2018 after hitting a moose on I-95. All three fatal crashes since 2018 happened in Penobscot County.

Despite the fatality, moose crashes have continued to plummet in Maine during the past couple decades, with 3,299 crashes happening between 2003 and 2007, compared with 1,246 crashes from 2019 to 2023.

Maine has between 60,000 and 70,000 moose, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife . It’s a substantial decline from the population of more than 100,000 in 1999, state moose biologist Lee Kantar said during an interview with the Bangor Daily News in 2019.

The smaller moose herd, as well as efforts to make the roads safer with signage, lighting and tree trimming, have all contributed to the crash decline, experts previously told the BDN

Turcotte has responded to “dozens and dozens” of moose crashes and hundreds of deer crashes. He even once hit a moose in his police cruiser.

“I’m keenly aware of the dangers of operating on Maine roadways with large animals,” Turcotte

said. “It was tragic, obviously, to hear the 17-year-old was killed.”

Moose crashes are more likely to leave people injured than deer crashes, in large part because of the size difference, both weight and height. A moose can weigh more than 1,200 pounds, while most deer are between 100 and 300 pounds.

Drivers also hit moose at leg level, making them more likely to roll up the front windshield, where people are sitting. Deer are typically deflected away from a vehicle or sent over the front windshield.

It’s hard to see moose in the road, especially at night or in low light. Drivers along rural roads should slow down because it’s typically too late to swerve to avoid a moose by the time you see it, Turcotte said.

Tuesday’s fatal crash is especially tragic because Gardner likely never saw the moose, Turcotte said. A moose crash is something outside of a driver’s control, unlike choosing to drive while impaired or texting or speeding.

“It’s one of those things where it’s unavoidable,” Turcotte said. “The majority of crashes are avoidable, right? They’re preventable. Moose crashes, on the other hand, they’re non-preventable. You can’t see them until you hit them.”

Aroostook County has had the most moose crashes in the last four years, with 496. Penobscot County has the second highest, with 212 crashes. Somerset County was the next highest with 87 crashes.

Sagadahoc County saw only one crash in that time frame. Knox, Waldo and York counties saw three, four and five crashes, respectively.

The overall crash rate goes up across the state in the summer months, because there’s more daylight and there are more people driving. It’s also breeding season for moose, which means they’re more mobile and less cautious.

“My biggest message would be at night, especially on rural roads, is just slow down,” Turcotte said. “They’re not as visible as we think they are.”