On Saturday, February 17 at about 10:35 am, a group of four snowmobilers were traveling southbound on Indian Lake in Hamilton County when the first rider in the group struck a 16-inch high-pressure crack. The rider and snowmobile were thrown 73 feet in the air before crashing to the ice, and rolling end over end.
An ice fisherman saw the accident and called 911. Forest Rangers Caswell, Lomnitzer, Milano, and Scott responded with Indian Lake Fire and EMS, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
While responding, a rescue ATV broke through the ice. The two first responders self-rescued and Rangers used snowmobiles to bring the first responders to an ambulance at Indian Lake Islands campground and helped package the injured snowmobiler in a rescue toboggan.
The 67-year-old from Indian Lake was transported four miles across the lake to a waiting ambulance. He was then taken to the hospital with significant injuries.
Rangers also helped recover the first responders’ ATV from the water. The mission completed just after 1 pm.
At about 12:30 pm, during the incident, Forest Rangers Evans, Lee, and Murphy responded to a call for a snowmobile through the ice on Stillwater Reservoir in the town of Webb, Herkimer County.
The rider was out of the water when Rangers arrived, but the snowmobile was submerged. Rangers returned the following day to provide scene safety while a tow operator removed the snowmobile from the water.
Lake ice has remained very dangerous this winter due, in part due to warming temperatures as a result of our warming climate.
Learn about ice safety here.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photos, from above, provided by DEC: Snowmobile pulled out of Stillwater Reservoir; and the pressure crack at Indian Lake.
