Date of Incident: 01-11-2025 Time of Incident: 1104 hours
Location of Incident: Lake Hanska, Brown County
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an UTV that went through the ice on Lake Hanska, just East of Geiger’s Point. The occupants managed to get out of the vehicle, and no one was injured. The UTV is still partially submerged in the lake and arrangements are being made to recover the UTV on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
While no ice is 100 percent safe, please use caution anytime you venture onto lake ice or river ice, especially at night.
Refrain from driving on ice whenever possible. If you must drive a vehicle, keep your windows down and be prepared to leave it in a hurry.
Don’t “overdrive” your vehicle’s or snowmobile’s headlight.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office recommends following the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ice thickness guidelines before heading out onto the ice.
The DNR offers the following guidelines for new clear ice:
Under 4 inches of ice: STAY OFF
4 inches of ice: Walking, ice fishing, ice skating, or other activities on foot
5–7 inches of ice: Snowmobiling or riding a small ATV
7–8 inches of ice: Riding a side-by-side ATV
9–12 inches of ice: Driving a car
13–17 inches of ice: Driving a truck
More than 20 in: Driving a large truck with a wheelhouse shelter
And finally, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.