Tow crews recover SUV after it falls through ice on Wisconsin lake
By Gino Recchia
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WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wisconsin (WISN) — A 58-year-old man escaped unharmed Saturday night after his SUV fell through the ice on Pewaukee Lake near the Maple Road boat launch, police said.
Dispatch audio captured the initial call for help.
“We got a call for a Bronco that was about 15 to 20 feet out that fell through the ice,” the dispatcher said.
Authorities said the vehicle was unoccupied when first responders arrived. The driver managed to climb out through the back window to safety.
Tow crews from Ken Weber Towing and Recovery were called to remove the SUV from the lake.
Jai Grunewald, operations manager for the company, said the situation escalated quickly.
“We seen that the vehicle is fully submerged and sinking by the minute,” Grunewald said.
Recovering the vehicle required heavy equipment, including a 50-ton rotator truck, flatbeds loaded with chainsaws and ramps, and even a diver to secure the SUV beneath the surface.
“There was broken sheets of ice underneath the vehicle that we’re also working with,” Grunewald explained, describing the challenges crews faced.
Grunewald said the Maple Road launch is a common trouble spot.
“That’s one where we do multiple a year that go in. This was the second or third that we’ve done this year,” he said.
Even when ice measures more than a foot thick in some areas, warmer air temperatures can rapidly weaken conditions, especially near shorelines.
“Yeah, they’re all telling me it’s 18 to 20 inches thick out there, but it’s also 55, 60 degrees out there as well. So it’s going to start melting at some point,” Grunewald said.
With no snow cover acting as insulation and temperatures fluctuating above freezing, ice can deteriorate faster than many people expect.
For those still considering driving out, Grunewald offered a blunt warning.
“I’ll see you next week,” he said.
Meteorologists say no ice is ever guaranteed 100% safe, especially during periods of fluctuating temperatures.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advises drivers not to take vehicles onto the ice during warm-ups or rain events.
The agency says vehicle owners have 30 days to remove a sunken vehicle from a lake. After that, they may face a $400 citation for each additional day it remains in the water.
Agency officials also warn that submerged vehicles can pose environmental risks if fluids leak into the lake and create navigation hazards for others.
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