News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Michael Sheehan, 612-919-5918
February 11, 2017 (WAYZATA) - Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies, Wayzata Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to Wayzata Bay at approximately 7:39 a.m. after a passerby reported seeing a vehicle in the water.
Deputies from HCSO Water Patrol entered the water to confirm that no persons were still in the vehicle. Once located, the vehicle's owner also confirmed that all parties exited the car and were safe. The vehicle will be retrieved from the lake at the owner's expense.
"Ice in Minnesota is never totally safe," said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. "The reason is you get changing, shifting conditions...You've got underwater streams, irrigation streams, all kinds of things that weaken ice, especially in the channels and along the shoreline."
This is the second vehicle to go through the ice in two days, although neither incident resulted in injuries.
HCSO reminds people that ice conditions are never 100 percent safe. Due to warm weather this weekend, ice conditions may deteriorate quickly. A minimum of 4 inches of ice is recommended for walking and small group activities, and a minimum of 8 inches is recommended to support a car or small pickup truck.
Other ice safety tips:
- Channel and shoreline areas are particularly dangerous. Never walk, snowmobile, or use an ATV on a channel. Check the ice thickness prior to attempting recreational activities.
- Do not venture onto the ice at night.
- Wear a life jacket.
- Keep your dog on a leash so that it doesn’t wander onto thin ice. You should not put your safety in jeopardy by following a dog onto thin ice.
- Carry safety gear such as ice picks and a rope to throw to someone who falls through the ice.
For more information about ice safety, the Minnesota DNR has tips online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice.
-HCSO-
Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
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