Police urge ‘extreme caution’ after truck goes through ice into Dog Lake

After a vehicle broke through the ice on Dog Lake earlier this week, the Frontenac Detachement of the Ontario Provincial Police are urging the public to exercise “extreme caution” near bodies of water that currently have ice on them.

Just before 12 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, OPP received a call regarding a pickup truck that had become submerged in Dog Lake after breaking through the ice.

According to a release from the OPP, investigation revealed that, at 6 p.m. the night before, an individual drove the vehicle out onto the lake to go ice fishing. While driving back to shore, that the vehicle broke through the ice and sank in approximately 40 feet of water, the OPP reported.

“The driver was able to escape from the vehicle and no injures were sustained,” the OPP said, adding that, “no ice is safe ice!”

Police said that the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) has been notified and police are working with them to ensure the vehicle is safely recovered from the lake.

“Please consider the risks to yourself and others should you venture out on frozen surfaces,” the OPP continued. “This not only puts you in harms way, but when first responders are called to an emergency on the ice, the rescue efforts are complicated and can be dangerous for everyone.”

Kingstonist inquired as to whether any charges were laid in this case, as the driver did not notify police or other emergency services at the time the truck went through the ice, prolonging the process of removing that vehicle from the water and ensuring fluids from the vehicle are not leeching into the lake. According to Constable Dan Brooks, Media Relations Officer with the Frontenac OPP, “The investigation is ongoing at this time with the assistance of the MOE.” Brooks noted that an updated will be issued via media release If charges are laid.