Watch CBS News

Bodies Of 2 Snowmobilers Found In Lake Charlotte

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Crews have recovered the bodies of two men who went missing after crashing through the ice on their snowmobiles on Lake Charlotte Saturday night.

The two men were found by divers on Sunday afternoon.

Authorities were initially called to the lake on a report that an ATV had gone into the water on Saturday night. They say a man, who'd witnessed the snowmobiles go in, then went out on his ATV to see if he could help. The ATV also went into the water, but the man was able to get out.

Sgt. Troy Wachter of the Wright County Sheriff's Department said you can see the open water near the east side of the lake.

Prior to this incident, he said he would not have advised anyone to be on the lake, let alone a heavy machine. He said the ice is clearly weak with the warm temperatures of late.

WCCO's Adam Carter Interviews Sheriff Joe Hagerty

Podcast

 
Wright County Sheriff Joe Hagerty says it was evident the men and the snowmobiles went into the water -- and very unlikely during the search that they would've made it out alive.

"While out there, we found some gloves, boots and a hat floating in the open water," he said.

Friends and school leaders in Rockford identified the victims as Adam Patnode and Brad Skafte.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.