Sheriff Tom Burch reports that the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and assisting agencies responded to several reports of vehicles through the ice over the weekend. There were no serious injuries reported.
At 9:47 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, it was reported that a full-size Chevrolet pickup had gone through the thin ice in the Wilson Bay area on Gull Lake. The occupants were able to escape the vehicle and the vehicle was later removed. There were no injuries reported.
At 1:30 p.m. the same day, it was reported that a full-size GMC pickup had gone through the ice in the area of Hunter Point on Gull Lake. The two occupants were able to get out of the vehicle and onto the hood and eventually away from the vehicle. The vehicle was later removed. There were no injuries reported.
At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, it was reported a vehicle had gone through thin ice on the northwest side of Pike Bay near Cass Lake. Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by the Cass Lake Fire Department, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Leech Lake Tribal DNR and the Bemidji Fire Department.
When they arrived at the scene, they found a vehicle partially submerged in shallow water and two parties attempting to escape the vehicle. The parties were able to get away from the vehicle and were assisted off thin ice and open water by the Cass Lake Fire Department. The two parties were treated on scene by Leech Lake Ambulance and released with no injuries. Arrangements are being made to remove the vehicle.
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And at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, a deputy patrolling the Gull Lake area spotted a GMC SUV that had gone through thin ice in the area of an ice heave near Sandy Point. It was learned that the occupants were able to safely get away from the vehicle. The vehicle was later removed. There were no injuries reported.
Burch said that due to minimal snow conditions, motorists are able to travel freely on area waterways and are finding thin ice areas. In a year with normal snowfall, plowed roads help keep motorists away from vulnerable areas.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office continues to urge strong caution to be used on all area lakes. Even though cold temperatures have helped ice conditions, there are still many vulnerable areas around ice heaves, rivers and springs. All ice should never be considered 100 percent safe.
