Indian Lake Distress Flare

Ice conditions and a distress flare created concern in Schoolcraft County Wednesday night.

The Schoolcraft County Sheriff Department received a call at 8:39PM Wednesday reporting a distress flare deployment over the north end of Indian Lake. The caller indicated that he went out on to the ice to investigate and found a truck had gone though in a few feet of water.

He reported that everyone at that scene was safe and uninjured and the people present said they were not the source of the flare. At that time the individual determined the ice to be unsafe and returned to shore to report the incident.

Due to the amount of time it would take to search the area as well as the ice conditions, the Sheriff Department requested air support from the United States Coast Guard Air Station in Traverse City.

The Coast Guard helicopter searched the north end of Indian Lake for one hour and found nothing except the abandoned truck. At this time the Sheriff Department is investigating if the two incidents are connected.

Just after 1:00AM on Thursday morning the Coast Guard helicopter was refueled at the Schoolcraft County Air Port and returned to Air Station Traverse City.

Schoolcraft County Sheriff Grant Harris reminds people that no ice should be treated as safe ice. “This winter has had unusual warm streaks that have weakened the ice. We know of people going though not only in our county, but in our neighboring counties as well. I know people enjoy ice fishing but when it comes to bad ice, the easiest way to stay safe is to stay off it.”

The Sheriff Department will continue to investigate the incident and anyone with information is asked to contact the Schoolcraft County Sheriff Department at (906) 341-2122.