South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks officials say our warm temperatures have created some unstable ice throughout the area. They say there are several things you need to keep in mind to stay safe around thin ice.
Over the weekend the Hamlin County Sheriff's office says a truck went into the west side of Lake Poinsett. They say that truck went under the water in less than a minute with the driver inside. The driver was able to crawl out the window.
That scary close call shows how fast things can happen on thin ice. We spoke with conservation officer Blake Yonke and he says common sense is the best tip for staying safe on the ice. Yonke says the problem with this year is that ice in the area has melted and frozen again several times and that's made the ice very unstable and created cracks and holes as well. When snows covers the ground it makes those cracks very hard to spot.
The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department recommends only walking on ice if it's 3 to 4 inches thick. If you are going to use an ATV or a snowmobile the ice should be 6 to 8 inches thick. If you are going to drive a car on the ice it should be at least a foot thick.
The SDGFP says if you are going to drive out on the ice make sure you drive with your window down, your door open, and with your seatbelt off. Also if you are going to head out on the ice first check in with some local bait shops. They might be able to tell you if it's not safe, or where a safer spot to fish might be.
If you are ever in a situation where you car hits the water here is what the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says you should do. They say if your car or truck plunges through the ice, the best time to escape is before it sinks, not after. It will stay afloat a few seconds to several minutes depending on the air tightness of the vehicle. While the car is still afloat, the best escape hatches are the side windows since the doors may be held shut by the water pressure. If the windows are blocked, try to push the windshield or rear window out with your feet or shoulder. A vehicle with its engine in the front will sink at a steep angle and may land on its roof if the water is 15 feet or deeper. As the car starts its final plunge to the bottom, water rapidly displaces the remaining air. An air bubble can stay in a submerged vehicle, but it is unlikely that it would remain by the time the car hits the bottom. When the car is completely filled, the doors may be a little easier to open unless they are blocked by mud and silt. Remember too, chances are that the car will be upside down at this point. Add darkness and near freezing water, and your chances of escape have greatly diminished. This underscores the necessity of getting out of the car before it starts to sink.
