GLENBURN — An early morning snowmobile accident on Sunday took the lives of two Herman residents, according to the Maine Warden Service.

Killed when their snowmobile struck a tree at the edge of a field in Glenburn were the machine’s operator, Jason Teifert, 21, and his passenger, Aleasha Godin, 17, both of Hermon, Warden Lt. Kevin Adams, search and rescue coordinator, said in a press release Sunday afternoon.

According to Adams, the pair had been at a nearby residence with friends and gone for a quick ride across the field on a local trail off Kelley Road just before 2 a.m.

Wardens responded to the scene with additional emergency personnel from the Glenburn Fire Department, G&H Ambulance, the Hudson Fire Department, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police

Members of the Glenburn Snowmobile Club also assisted at the scene.

Neither Teifor nor Godin were wearing a helmet and speed did appear to be a factor in the crash, according to the release. It was not known if alcohol was a factor; Adam said as part of an investigation into any snowmobiling fatality, blood alcohol analysis will be conducted on the victims by the state medical examiner’s office

Adam said the snowmobile will be inspected to determine if there was a mechanical malfunction.

Hermon High School officials have been notified and were preparing to respond to students’ concerns for tomorrow’s school day.