The new year started with a frightening situation on the Ottawa River in Wendover.
On January 1, Hawkesbury Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were called to assist where a four wheeler all-terrain vehicle (ATV) had broken through the ice 100 metres from shore. Fortunately, no one was injured and the passengers were able to climb to safety.
The OPP would like to remind everyone that ICE safety is very important, especially with changing temperatures, everyone must be vigilant in making sure all precautions are taken before venturing on the ice.
According to the OPP, no ice on a lake or river is without risk. People should not walk on ice that is less than three inches or seven centimetres thick. Ice that is four inches or 10 centimetres thick is safe for walking, solitary ice fishing, or cross-country skiing. Single snowmobiles or ATV’s should not be on ice less than five inches or 12 centimetres thick. Ice must be at least eight to 12 inches or 20 to 30 centimetres thick to support a single small car or pickup truck, and single medium sized pickup trucks should not be on ice with a thickness less than 12 to 15 inches or 30 to 38 centimetres.
