A Marion man and his passenger from West Wareham suffered minor injuries Saturday, June 4 in a utility vehicle rollover accident in New Hampshire, the state’s Fish and Game Department reported. 

Matthew Dessert, 36, of Marion was operating a utility-terrain vehicle on Deadwater Loop Road in Clarksville N.H. at about 8 p.m. when the incident happened, the agency reported. 

Dessert was attempting to avoid another UTV turning off a side road when he suddenly lost control of the UTV on a portion of flat gravel and rolled over, the department reported.

The Pittsburg, N.H. Fire Department and emergency medical personnel from the 45th Parallel Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the scene, Fish and Game reported.

The operator and his passenger, Joshua Dessert, 31, of West Wareham, received minor injuries and were subsequently transported to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital (UCVH) for further evaluation. 

Neither the operator nor the passenger was wearing a safety harness or helmet when the incident occurred, according to Fish and Game. 

Following a preliminary, on-site investigation, unreasonable speed was determined to be the primary contributing factor to the rollover. The operator was subsequently issued a summons for unreasonable speed.

The vehicle sustained significant damage and was unable to be driven from the scene.