WESCOTT, Wis. (WFRV) – A driver whose vehicle fell through the ice on Shawano Lake early Tuesday morning was hospitalized and later arrested on an unrelated matter.
According to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office, a call came in around 6:30 a.m. about a vehicle partially submerged in the ice near the north shore of Shawano Lake, south of the channel to Washington Lake.
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The caller reported a small van with its headlights still on but believed everyone had exited the vehicle. Deputies later confirmed the driver was able to escape but had left the scene before authorities arrived.
The driver, who was located and confirmed as the sole occupant of the vehicle, explained he had driven onto the ice to deliver food to someone ice fishing. This resulted in the van breaking through the ice.
The driver was taken to a hospital for evaluation. After being discharged, he was arrested on an unrelated matter and transported to the Shawano County Jail.
Efforts to remove the vehicle are ongoing, with assistance from a local towing company and the Shawano Fire Department.
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The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office urged residents to use extreme caution when venturing onto frozen lakes, emphasizing that ice conditions can be unpredictable.
“It’s crucial to ensure ice thickness is at least four inches for safe walking and to monitor weather changes that can weaken the ice,” officials advised.
