DNR Warns of Ice Fishing Safety Following Fatal Accident in Daviess County

From Local Law Enforcement Sources 

AREA WIDE -- Indiana Conservation Officers are concluding a death investigation of a 55 year old Loogootee man who fell through the ice on Friday February 1. The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office received the call around 7:00 pm and multiple agencies responded.

South East Fire District rescue personnel were able to bring Roger L. Williams to shore who was pronounced dead at the scene by the Daviess County Coroner’s Office.

The ice thickness at the time of the incident was approximately two inches where Williams went into the water.  He had not been in contact with anyone for several hours before he was found and was not wearing any type of personal floatation device.

Responding agencies included the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Conservation Officers, South East Fire District, Washington Township Fire Department, Southwest Medical and the Daviess County Coroner’s Office.

No ice is safe ice and when in doubt, don’t go out.  Below are some guidelines for the amount of weight fresh solid ice can hold.

One inch of ice        STAY OFF!   

Four inches of ice      Needed to support the weight of a person

Five inches of ice       Needed to support weight snowmobile or ATV

Eight inches of ice     Needed to support a medium weight truck