SUV Falls Through Ice on Fish Lake

A would-be ice fisherman took an unexpected dip in Fish Lake when the Ford Escape he was driving fell through the ice on Monday morning.

Eagan Police and Fire Department units responded to the incident, which occurred around 9:20 a.m., and were able to remove the vehicle from the lake with the help of a tow truck.

The vehicle fell through in roughly 2.5 feet of water, Eagan Police spokeswoman Danielle Anselment said on Tuesday morning. There were two adult occupants in the small SUV at the time of the incident, Anselment said. Neither was injured.

The man was able to get out of the car and get to shore, where he called emergency services, Anselment said. The fire department was able to chisel away the ice around the vehicle and remove the woman from the SUV.

"Somebody thought it would be a good idea to drive out on the ice to fish and went through," Anselment said. "It's a good reminder not to drive on the lakes in Eagan, anyway."

The ice must be at least 8-12 inches thick to support the weight of a car or small pick-up, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Larger vehicles may need as much as 15 inches of ice for support. The DNR recommends that individuals refrain from driving on the ice whenever possible.