Three Vehicles Break Through Ice on Southern MN Lake
It's been cold lately, but apparently not cold enough. In a series of unrelated incidents, three vehicles went through the ice Saturday on Madison Lake in Blue Earth County. No injuries were reported by any of the ten people involved.
The Star Tribune reports that a news release from the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office indicated the area was open water as recently as last week. Madison Lake is about ten miles east of Mankato. The SUV and two pickups went through between late Saturday morning and 9:15 pm. Each was totally submerged. Extra signs were placed near the area. Officials also contacted local businesses and encouraged them to pass the news along, according to the report.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends 12-15 inches of ice for medium trucks and 8-12 inches for a car or small pickup. Blue Earth County officials remind people, "ice should never be considered completely safe as conditions continuously change. Being familiar with the lake is important and local bait shops and businesses are often able to provide the most up-to-date information."