He ‘tests’ ice/SUV sinks

[Lee Borgersen]

 SUV sinks in St. Louis River after driver ‘tests’ ice

 Mar 20, 2015 at 8:39 p.m.

 
A Duluth man told authorities he was “testing the ice” on Friday when  his SUV broke through that ice and sank into the St. Louis River in western Duluth.

 
 

Alcohol consumption appears to be a contributing factor in the incident offshore from Boy Scout Landing, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The 46-year-old Duluth man, a resident of the Gary-New Duluth neighborhood not far from the landing, was attempting to drive onto the ice when his 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer broke through the ice about 50 feet from the landing just after 4 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office reported. He was not injured.

The vehicle was submerged in about 6 feet of water, with its rear window and bumper protruding from the river. It proved difficult to remove, and several tow companies were required to pull the SUV from the water.

Highs in Duluth have reached the 40s, 50s or 60s every day since March 8, according to the National Weather Service.

Friday’s incident was at least the third case of cars or people going through thin ice in the Duluth area in the past two weeks. An angler’s vehicle broke through the ice on Rice Lake reservoir north of Duluth on March 10, and a woman broke through the ice while walking on Lake Superior along the shore of Canal Park on Tuesday. Neither incident resulted in injuries.

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