Brown County Sheriff’s Office warns of thin ice conditions after truck breaks through ice on Lake Hanska

Brown County Sheriff’s Office, about 45 minutes west of Mankato, closed the Lake Hanska main landing Saturday afternoon after a pickup truck broke through the ice on the east side of the lake near County Road 6.

There were no injuries reported and arrangements are being made to get the pickup truck out, officials said.

After this incident, the Sheriff’s Office is reminding those who may use lakes and rivers during the winter months to be cautious of thin ice conditions.

“While no ice is 100 percent safe, please use caution anytime you venture onto lake ice or river ice, especially at night,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office also shared some tips for being safe when you are on ice:

• 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.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Brown County Sheriff’s Office also shared the Minnesota DNR’s ice thickness guidelines:

• 4 inches for ice fishing or other activities on foot.
• 5 inches for snowmobile or ATV.
• 8-12 inches for car or small pickup.
• 12-15 inches for medium truck.