The dangers of driving through the ice and tips to avoid it
December 5, 2012Vince’s biggest concern was keeping an eye out for those slush puddles because a few cars the weekend before had gotten swamped in a large puddle. Slush is a reality while ice fishing and puddles can be several feet deep. “We were driving out when suddenly the front axle was in several feet of water—I thought we hit one of those slush puddles,” he said.
A seasoned ice angler, Vince had seen people break through and knew when it happens there’s barely time to open the door and exit. “Then the water started coming up over the hood and I realized we were still going down,” he said.
With his window already down, he was able to lower it enough to bail out without opening the door. As a vehicle descends, water pressure often makes doors difficult to open until the pressure lessens as the vehicle fills with water. “I exited the cab and rolled onto the shelf of ice that was still there as the vehicle slid down,” he said.
Vince rolled away from the hole a few feet, wet only from the chest on down, and turned around hoping to see his wife looking back at him from the opposite side of the ice.
She wasn’t there.
Because his window had been open, the water rushed into his vehicle very quickly causing it to sink fast. As he watched the tailgate slip below the surface of the water, floatable items inside the topper bobbed to the surface. “The truck was well below when miraculously my wife popped up too and I helped her out of the water,” he said.
By his best estimates, the entire ordeal took less than a minute. Among the other items bobbing on the surface was a bag containing his GPS unit. It still worked and he punched in the coordinates before they left the ice so they could notify the sheriff and start the process of recovering the vehicle.
“It was quite terrifying and until it happens you don’t think it could happen to you,” he said.
Living in lake country through winter means dealing with snow and ice. To some it is an unavoidable annoyance while to others it is paradise made for recreation, celebrations and events including the world’s largest ice fishing contest. A frozen lake resembles an oversized field with open access to all. The concept boggles the minds of those from warmer climates who call the ice “hard water.”
Because we so thoroughly enjoy the lakes 365 days of the year, many of us have become complacent of the inherent dangers. The term “hard water” tends to put ice into a unique perspective revealing the fact that it is always dangerous. “Is the ice safe yet?” is a common question heard in the wintertime. Even though most know that ice is never safe, it shows that at some point we believe the ice is thick enough to be considered safe.
The number of people breaking through ice in Minnesota has been going down over the years. Throughout the winter, local sheriff offices track ice levels, post “Thin Ice” signs, approve on-ice events, and help with rescue and recovery efforts. Several area sheriff’s interviewed said they believe fewer people are breaking through the ice because there’s more awareness about ice safety, “The DNR puts a lot of information out there, you hear radio messages about it and they talk about it on fishing shows,” said the Crow Wing County Sheriff.
Getting the word out is something the DNR has focused on since the 1980s when ice fatalities were high. “The worst year for ice fatalities was the winter of 1982-83 with a total of 22 fatalities,” said Kim Elverum, DNR boat and water safety coordinator.
Bill Matthies runs the School of Diving’s Inland Commercial Diver Training Center on Washington Street in Brainerd and has been recovering vehicles for over 50 years. He’s also noticed a drop in the number of vehicles going through the ice attributing the drop to a combination of better marking of problem areas and a more educated public.When a vehicle goes through the ice, it is the responsibility of the owner to remove it as quickly as possible. The cost for removing a car or truck runs over $300, Matthies said. Once it is pulled out, the insurance company usually labels it “totaled.” Most insurance policies do not cover the removal process nor will they replace the vehicle.
Another specialist who gets called into action when a vehicle goes through the ice is your local tow truck driver. Clarence Turner, owner of Turner Towing in Nisswa, has been pulling cars up and out of the ice for almost 50 years. He has pulled hundreds of vehicles from the ice all over the state and said every one is a unique challenge.
The removal process generally begins with the driver assessing the situation from shore. He’ll utilize a local expert who knows the lake to help him drive out on ice thick enough for his wrecker. If the overall ice situation is tricky, he’ll stop frequently to drill with an auger and measure ice thickness. Once he arrives at the hole where the vehicle went through, he’ll check the area to determine the best place for removal. Often times this involves drilling a thin channel for the chain to run through as the vehicle is moved to a better location for removal. A large hole is cut in the ice where it will be removed and the vehicle is brought up out of the ice completely before being set down on the flatbed for removal. The entire process can take several hours and often involves a diver to secure the chain to the vehicle.
Vince and his wife still enjoy ice fishing and have put the experience behind them though going through is always at the forefront of his mind. “The first time I went back onto the ice was freaky and weird but jeez, if you want to fish a big lake you have to get out there with a vehicle so I’ve put it behind me—I’m just happy to be alive,” he said.
Avoid driving through this winter
The easiest way to avoid driving through the ice is to not drive on it in the first place. That’s great for some, but for those who must drive on the ice here’s some advice:
- Watch out for areas near creek mouths, channels, springs and narrows where ice levels can remain thin no matter how cold it gets.
- Avoid pressure ridges and ice heaves. If unsure how to identify them check with the DNR or a local baitshop.
- Drive slowly so you can easily stop.
- Check with the DNR and local baitshops for a report on ice conditions.
- Don’t drive on the ice at night.
- Stay on established trails.
- Keep a pair of ice rescue picks.
- Wear a life jacket (really).
Posted by Ron C. Hustvedt Jr.. Posted In : Ice Fishing
Ron Hustvedt Jr. is an avid outdoorsman and enthusiastic educator who loves mixing the two whenever possible. He is a nationally published outdoor writer and photographer with articles and photographs appearing in a wide variety of publications. Hustvedt is an outdoor personality who has appeared on nationally televised hunting and fishing shows along with his own videos and commercials. For his full-time gig, Hustvedt is a middle school social studies teacher whose students consistently perform at the highest levels. He has been fishing and hunting his entire life and enjoys bringing the outdoors to his classroom as well. You can visit him online at www.writeOutdoors.com or on Youtube at YouTube.com/WriteOutdoors.
