OPP warn of ice safety after two snow machines fall through ice in Frontenac

OPP are reminding Ontarians that it is difficult to determine whether ice is safe, especially during unpredictable weather.

On Saturday, Frontenac OPP responded to two separate instances of snow machines that broke through the ice and now sit at the bottom of the lake.

On the morning of Dec. 28, OPP were called to an area on Shabomeka Lake, in North Frontenac Township, by a resident reporting snowmobile tracks leading to a large hole in the ice. Officers were able to locate the rider and confirmed there were no other passengers to account for.

OPP report that the snowmobile was about 20 feet from shore when it crashed through the ice. The rider was able to escape and make it to the dock unharmed and the machine remains approximately 10 feet deep in the water.

Around 12:30 p.m., OPP responded to another call to an area of Sydenham Lake in South Frontenac Township. The caller reported a side-by-side UTV had crashed through the ice and sunk to the bottom of the lake. The rider was able to escape the sinking machine and made their way back to shore wet and cold, but unharmed.

The machine went through the ice approximately 100 feet from the shoreline. OPP say they do not know how deep the lake is in the precise location.

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) have been notified of both instances and state the responsibility for removing the machines from the water, fall on the owners.

“The extreme fluctuation between warm and cold temperatures means No Ice Is Safe Ice,” OPP write in a release.

The OPP put forth the following safety tips for winter operation of snow machines:

• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to arrive;
• Keep your gas tank filled;
• Check the weather, trail and ice conditions before you leave;
• Wear appropriate clothing to prevent hypothermia, like a floater or survival suit;
• Regularly Inspect your snowmobile to make sure it is in good mechanical condition;
• Bring a first-aid kit and a survival kit;
• Stay on trails and use proper care and control; and
• Always ride sober.

Ottawa Police have also put out tips to remain safe this winter for local residents.