Story Archive

Should’ve Used the Bridges

“When the lake goes dry in the winter,” said Austin Opp of the Chain of Rocks Recreation Corp., “there’s a lot of temptation for guys to think they can just come out here and go four-wheeling.” That’s just what happened when two men drove to Chouteau Island in Madison County, Ill. According to the truck’s owner, they saw the frozen pond but drove on, thinking it was a field. “It’s permafrost,” Opp said. “It was frozen hard enough that it held him up for a while then it just collapsed in, which is what I’d expect him to do.” The men tried to turn back, but the ice gave way and the truck got stuck. The owner then rented a backhoe to try to remove the truck, but drove onto an unseen pocket of ice, sand, and mud that gave way — sinking the backhoe. Both vehicles remained frozen in the ice in a spot that will be six or seven feet underwater by spring. The property owners want the vehicles removed, but given what happened to the first two vehicles, nobody was willing to tow them out. (MS/KTVI St. Louis) ...Advertise it as an “ice tow challenge” and someone will try it. And get stuck.