Don't know him...but I pray for him and his family

[fishnfreak]

Pickup Plunges Through Ice

A pickup with two fishermen inside went through the ice this morning at Lake Sinai in Brookings County and one of them was still in the water at last report.

Sheriff Marty Stanwick says divers got to the pickup but the 58-year-old man wasn't inside. The other angler was able to escape without injury. Both men are reportedly from Iowa.

Lake Sinai is about eleven miles west of Brookings.

Brookings County Conservation Officer Jeff Grenler says the incident happened in deep water near the boat landing.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


This is a local news story in South Dakota. We've had temps average below zero for the last 15 days straight.  This Lake Sinai has 24"-28" over the majority of the lake.  Where the men reportedly went through, is typically not a soft spot.  This is just another sad reminder that even the coldest of winters can still produce weak ice.  I haven't heard a follow up to this story yet, I pray the rescue team was able to locate the missing man, and salvage his life.

[ice dawg]

I'll pray for him and his family also. It seems like no matter how thick the ice is, there is always somewhere to fall through. Sometimes I think that my wife is the wise one. She wouldn't trust ice if the lake was frozen all the way to the bottom.

[brookiebomber477]

wow...thats the scary kinda stuff that really makes you think twice about driving out sometimes...i hope they found the poor guy

[jayswimmer09]

im glad i live in pa and driving out on lakes isnt a option

[Prairiegoat]

CAPTION: Photo: Lake Sinai
 
02/08/2007
Pickup Plunges Through Ice

It's as much of a mystery as it is a tragedy.  A pickup with two fishermen inside broke through the ice Thursday morning at Lake Sinai, which is 11 miles west of Brookings.

One angler made it out before the vehicle sank, but the search for the other continues.
 
The two men were from Iowa and were  unfamiliar with the lake and authorities say that's what turned this outing into a horrible ending.

For several hours, divers submerged themselves in the icy waters of Lake Sinai, hoping to find the other fisherman.

"Right now Brookings County rescue and Codington County rescue are in the water trying to locate the body to recover it," said Marty Stanwick.

But the recovery has been difficult. "It's cold and they're having problems with dive equipment freezing up, so they are having some difficulties with their equipment because of cold temps," said Stanwick.

The problem is with the regulators icing up, it's impossible for divers to stay under for any length of time. The two men from Iowa were in the area visiting friends and were unfamiliar with the lake.

Authorities say normally the ice would be thick enough to drive on in that area, but wildlife kept it from freezing over.

"Apparently there was some geese that had a pocket of water and the geese had left and the freezing over there was only about four inches of ice since the geese left," said Stanwick.

A local fisherman tells KELOLAND News, that particular area of the lake had been open as recently as last Saturday. So what started as a rescue mission, is now a recovery mission.

[ice dawg]

An ATV and a snowmobile went through the ice at Kampeska this week too. I would imagine the usual 7 or 8 will go through on Preston later this winter also.

[doodle]

Stories like this scare the hell out of me. I will walk out anytime but I don't think I could get in a truck and drive out on the ice. Now way, not for me.

[mmb]

Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Doesn't make sense to drive on a lake you don't know, period.

[Pail Rider]

Geese???

[eyewinder]

I wonder if those of us who really like to drive on the ice with our $30,000-plus icehouses (I'm talking about 4x4 pickups) wouldn't be better advised not to "fish away from the crowds" when driving on a lake that we haven't fished ever before, or for quite some time.

I know that I always follow fresh truck tracks onto a lake that I haven't fished (even if it's only been for a week), and don't stray far from where others have at least driven.  I've been very fortunate, and haven't had any problems. . .and I can always fish by myself if I want to, simply by stopping between the "communities" that spring up over productive (whether today or yesterday) water. 

I fished Sinai several years ago, although I'm not from that area, and followed truck tracks to an area that wasn't being fished at the time. . .18" of ice and no problem.

There have been times when I've either walked onto or passed completely on larger bodies of water where there's no evidence that vehicles have driven on during the previous couple of days.

[ice dawg]

Geese???

As long as there is high protein feed for them and they aren't ready to migrate, geese will sit on the water and keep a spot on a lake open with their body heat. When they decide to migrate farther south they leave and the lake will freeze over where they kept it open. Now you have a spot on the lake with thin ice and if you aren't a local that knows where the geese have kept the water open, you can go through. That is why is is good to drive where others have been driving.

[RLWagner]

Right now on Oxbow Lake in Southern Michigan there is 12" of ice, but there is an area with approximately 100 Swans in it about 75yards across that is open. This area is never ever open during winter till this year. If and when those swans leave, there is a widow maker waiting for unsuspecting cars, atv's, snowmobiles or even walkers. I hope we do not repeat the story from this thread.

[swantucky]

They were looking for a guy that went through on a snowsmobile in Saginaw Bay yesderday.  Really makes you stop and think.  Everyone please be careful.

[BASSandICE65]

Thats why I walk on the ice never would even think about driving my pickup on the ice just too risky for fishing. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

[scansy]

Geese???

As long as geese (and ducks for that matter) have open water and food, they can stay in the north.  In fact, as a waterfowler, that's one trick - when everything else is frozen, if you can find a small patch of open water, it will draw ducks and geese.

[-ADKIceman]

Stories like this scare the hell out of me. I will walk out anytime but I don't think I could get in a truck and drive out on the ice. Now way, not for me.

agreed... I have done some stupid stuff in my time. No more of that. When you have kids that super hero stuff kinda grows out of ya. I feel bad for their families...

[travisj88]

One problem that can happen ,even with thick ice, is if you drive more than just a few mph you can cause a wave under the ice.  This can cause a truck to go through ice that is even three feet thick.  If you are driving on ice always go slow and be safe.
Travis

[titeline22]

5 guys on snowmobiles went thru on Sodus Bay  (east of Rochester NY) the 6th somehow had enough speed to get across and get to shore to call for help. The good news is they all were rescued with the help of a Rescue Hovercraft.