The third annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest celebration was marred by tragedy Saturday afternoon when an accident claimed the life of a parade participant.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Anah Temple Shriner Marvin Tarbox Jr., 59, of Hancock, was fatally injured when the go-cart he was operating crashed around 2:50 p.m.
Tarbox and his fellow Shriners were participating in the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest parade at the time of the crash.
According to a statement from the LCSO, investigators at the scene believe the crash occurred when Tarbox drove over a ramp affixed to the front end of a 1990 GMC Suburban that was being operated by Craig Clifford, 49, of Haynesville.
Ramps were attached to either end of the Suburban. Investigators are concerned that the forward ramp may have failed, which resulted in Tarbox and his go-cart turning end-over-end before hitting the pavement.
While on the pavement, Tarbox was struck at least twice by other go-carts that were following him since those operators did not know the ramp had failed, according to the LCSO.
Tarbox was transported from the scene and subsequently succumbed to his injuries at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.
The accident occurred on Main Street in Newcastle, immediately in front of the town’s historic Taniscot Building, which houses the town office; just north of Main Street’s intersections with Academy Hill Road and Mills Road, an area often referred to as Newcastle Square.
The section of Main Street/Bus. Rt. 1 was closed in the village of Newcastle for over two and one-half hours while deputies documented and preserved the scene.
Several hundred spectators, including many children, were present when the accident occurred, prompting parents to quickly shield their children from the bloody scene. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has video of it to contact Sgt Jason Nein at 882-7332.
Will Monsell, of Damariscotta was watching the parade from Memorial Park next to the Second Congregational Church when the accident happened. “I saw it from beginning to end,” he said.
According to Monsell, the weld on the forward part of the ramp broke as Tarbox was descending. When the weld broke, the ramp’s incline became too steep for Tarbox to safely descend, Monsell said. The ramp was positioned for each go-cart to make a gradual decline to the road.
Monsell said the accident caused a “general intake of breath” among onlookers. “It went from a wonderful day to a tragic day,” he said.
As a racing enthusiast, Monsell said he had seen many terrible crashes, but that the go-carts’ lack of safety measures made this crash particularly gruesome. Monsell said the go-carts lacked lap belts and roll bars.
Tarbox was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Joe Kitchen, president of the Hancock County Shrine Club, said Tarbox was an active participant with the club and liked to take part in the group’s go-cart demonstrations.
The HC Shrine Club is part of the Bangor-based Anah Temple, a chapter of Shriners International with some 4000 members.
Shriners are a subgroup of Freemasons, perhaps best known for their system of 22 children’s hospitals that provide medical care to children up to the age of 18, regardless of whether they can pay.
“It’s going to be a big loss to the community of Hancock County, the Shrine, and his family,” Kitchen said.
Tarbox was born into the Freemason community, Kitchen said. His father and mother were both members of their local Masonic Lodge.
Kitchen, a friend of Tarbox’s for over 30 years and co-worker at Verizon for 20, said Tarbox was a warm and caring person that was truly liked by all.
“The thing I’ll always remember was his big smile,” Kitchen said.
Tarbox is survived by his daughter, Cassidy Ricker, and his fiancée Kris Blaisdell.
In addition to several deputies, members of the Newcastle Fire Dept., Central Lincoln County Ambulance, and Damariscotta Police Dept. assisted the LCSO at the scene. Several citizens with advance medical training also initially responded to render aid to Tarbox. No one else involved was injured.
The Sheriff’s Office has contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in order to determine if this death is workplace related.
Sheriff’s Office Investigators do not believe speed or alcohol were factors in the accident, but a blood sample was obtained from Clifford as is standard procedure.
Once completed this investigation will be forwarded to the Wiscasset District Attorney’s Office for review. It does not appear at this time that criminal prosecution is likely, LCSO reports.
