McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

Travis Bateman
Special to The Farmer

A trip onto the ice over Lake Sakakawea near Tobacco Gardens to relocate an ice house nearly ended in tragedy on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, for a local man.

The man, who wished to not be named, had gone out to move his icehouse away from a pressure ridge that had formed.

Unsuccessful, he departed for home and followed the tracks of other vehicles that had made a path amongst the thirty or more icehouses that are scattered across the lake in that area.

Suddenly, the ice gave way and he found himself in a dire situation as his mid-sized pickup became immersed up to the bottom of the windows almost instantly.

With the windows closed and the outer pressure against the doors making them unable to be opened, he fought to get out of the pickup. Nearby, two citizens were at their icehouse and saw the event unfold and rushed to help while also calling 911.

Inside, the man moved to the back seat and was eventually able to force a back door open. Then it was into the frigidly cold water.

Aided by the two men that rushed to his aid, they got him out of the water and then the race was on to minimize the exposure and hypothermia, to get dry and warm.

The 911 call touched off a response from deputies with the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, Keene Volunteer Fire Department, and McKenzie County Ambulance. McKenzie County Rural Fire was also requested by Keene for mutual aid.

When word that the occupant was out and safe, the mutual aid call was canceled. Deputies, ambulance, and initial fire/rescue units continued to the scene where medical aid was provided. Aside from cold and wet, it was determined that he had not suffered any other injuries from the event.

This experience is all too close for comfort, and though he has suffered the loss of his vehicle, he is thankful for the fast action of fellow fishermen and response and care of emergency responders.

This season has proved unfortunate for several that have ventured onto the ice this season. Five vehicles are known to have broken through the ice on the lake in the area of Sandy Point, which lies just east of the access road from Tobacco Gardens. The area becomes a virtual city atop the ice every year with upwards of thirty or more icehouses dotting the frozen flat. 

Pressure ridges form when a sequence of events similar to that of tectonic plates occurs and a crack forms making two separate pieces of ice. Wind and water movement eventually forces one sheet over the other and ice buckles, breaks, separates or all of the above. Water also often pools up and onto the top of the ice which can further weaken ice throughout a larger area. 

The open water or exposed fractures will then often freeze when temperatures drop again but become hidden or camouflaged with thicker ice around. The weaker ice can only hold so much weight and oftentimes a vehicle, person, ATV, or anything else of substantial weight will break through the weaker points. 

Safety measures such as driving without seatbelts fastened, windows down, and doors unlocked are important in the event of sudden immersion into the frigid waters. Life jackets, floatation devices, tow straps, and a slow speed when moving over the ice are also recommended. And if unfamiliar with ice conditions or ice travel at all, it is best not to venture out without accurate and up to date information on ice conditions.

As for the vehicle, it eventually became completely submerged but for a small portion of roof visible among the open area of water and waves. 

Tow recovery crews opted to not recover the vehicle that night given the special abilities needed for a water recovery and safety dangers of weak ice and night operations. As of Monday, there is a plan in place to recover the vehicle this week.

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