UTV falls through ice on Lake Kabetogama
(MGN)
The Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office has reported that around 6:30 p.m. on December 30, a tracked side by side broke through the ice on Lake Kabetogama, inside of Voyagers National Park.
The report says that the vehicle had been towing an icehouse across a pressure ridge on the lake, when the ice suddenly broke. The lone occupant, a 64-year-old man, escaped through the removable windshield of the UTV, and got onto stable ice.
He was then picked up by a rescue team and brought to shore with minor injuries, which were assessed by the International Falls Ambulance Service.
In light of this accident, the Sheriff’s Office issued the following tips for ice safety.
-Don’t go alone, take a cell phone with you if available, and make sure someone knows where you are and when you’re to return.
-Don’t travel on lakes in areas you’re not familiar with, don’t travel at night or during reduced visibility.
-Avoid inlets, outlets, pressure ridges, or narrows that may have current under it that can thin the ice.
-Carry some basic safety gear, to include ice picks, life jacket / float coat, and a length of rope.