A 57-year-old Long Pond man died Saturday evening in the state’s first snowmobile fatality of the season, the Maine Warden Service said Sunday.

Bryan Sylvester, an employee of the Maine Department of Transportation, was killed during a snowmobile ride he started about 2 p.m. from his Long Pond Road home, near Jackman, Cpl. John MacDonald said in a statement.

Sylvester had driven his 2008 Ski Doo MXZ 600 about 1½ miles from his home onto Long Pond near Parlin Stream when he struck a snowdrift and was thrown from the sled onto uneven ice, according to MacDonald. He was not wearing a helmet.

Game wardens found his body about 7:45 p.m. after a nearly two-hour search.

His body was taken to Giberson Funeral Home in Madison.

Game wardens continue to investigate the crash and death.