AUGUSTA, Maine — A U.S. agency has launched an investigation into the emergency care a Nova Scotia man received before he died of injures sustained at a ski resort in Maine.

Jay Bradshaw, director of Maine Emergency Medical Services -- which overees ambulance services in the state, said the bureau decided to pursue a formal investigation after conducting an initial review.

David Morse, 41, died on the way to hospital Jan. 12 after he lost control while skiing and smashed into a tree at the Sugarloaf resort.

Bradshaw said the agency received a written request for a formal investigation from Morse's widow, Dana.

Dana Morse, a nurse practitioner, has told The Chronicle Herald in Halifax that her husband received inadequate medical treatment from paramedics.

She also said the ambulance driver left her on the side of the road on the way to hospital after she requested that the vehicle pull over so she could move into the back to be with her husband.

Bradshaw could not say when the investigation is expected to be complete, but said the findings would be made public.

"It is a top priority for our office and we're very sensitive to how difficult this is for everybody involved. We want to do it as quickly as possible," Bradshaw said from central Maine on Saturday.

"At the same time, what is at least as important is that we do it thoroughly."

Depending on the findings, Bradshaw said the board has the ability to do anything from issue a letter of guidance, to revoke a license, issue fines and in extremely rare cases, request jail time.

Morse, who was from Kingston, N.S., was visiting Sugarloaf with his wife and two children.

Sugarloaf officials have said he was on an easier trail and wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.