Are People In Minnesota Not Reading These Urgent Warnings?

Minnesotans are unnecessarily putting their lives and those of their passengers in danger when they ignore warning signs placed on area lakes. Just hours after one Minnesota Sheriff's Office put out numerous electronic signs, warning those heading out to ice fish that some areas were unsafe, vehicles were already going into the water.

On Wednesday this week, members of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office were out at area lakes, placing electronic signs at boat launches, warning drivers about unsafe ice conditions. It seems people weren't reading the warning as just hours later, a vehicle had gone into Lake Minnetonka.

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Water Patrol deputies spent much of the day yesterday placing electronic signs at several boat launches on Lake Minnetonka, often used as access points to drive onto the ice-covered lake. The signs warn people about the dangers of the current ice conditions. Hours after the signs were placed, another vehicle broke through in Echo Bay. We can’t stress this enough; ice is never 100% safe!

Seeing vehicles going into the lake isn't just a problem on Lake Minnetonka in the Twin Cities, we've been seeing it here in Central Minnesota too.

If you are heading out onto the lake this weekend, know that we just about hit 50 here in Central Minnesota yesterday, so there will be areas on the lake that could be softer than normal.

Here are some tips from the Minnesota DNR for you if you've never been out on a lake before, or it's been a while:

• Stay on plowed ice roads whenever possible.
• Talk to local experts about ice conditions and known hazards.
• Roll down windows and unlock doors.
• Bring a life jacket or buoyant gear and ice picks in your car. Do NOT wear the life jacket or buoyant gear inside your vehicle. It could make escaping the vehicle very difficult if you break through the ice.
• Have a simple emergency escape plan you have discussed with your passengers.
• Don't override your headlights.
• Avoid pressure ridges, channels, and under bridges.
• Park at least 50 feet away from other vehicles and move your vehicle every two hours.