Four men from Massachusetts made the risky decision to go fishing on thin ice, despite warnings to stay away. Unfortunately, their truck ended up falling into the frozen lake, leaving them facing steep fines. Ignoring these warnings proved to be a costly mistake for the adventurous fishermen.
4 Massachusetts men ignored warnings to go ice fishing and lost their truck
The local police departments, EMS teams, and the Pittsfield Fire Department swiftly arrived at Ponstoosuc Lake in response to an incident where a 2023 Chevrolet 2500 pickup had plunged through the icy surface.
Four men from Massachusetts chose to ignore warnings about thin ice and ventured out for an ice fishing expedition, positioning themselves around 60 feet away from the bank. As a consequence of their disregard, they now find themselves facing significant fines. Additionally, the owner of the truck involved in the excursion is now burdened with a costly repair bill.
Residents were cautioned to steer clear of bodies of water as a precautionary measure, given the unstable ice formation caused by fluctuating temperatures and a recent period of warmer weather. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Ignoring this warning comes at a steep price, as the men in this case serve as a prime example. The Massachusetts Environmental Police stated that the recovery process can be both costly and time-consuming (Berkshire Eagle).
EMS Automotive successfully extracted the colossal truck from the lake using a tow truck, with the assistance of three employees and two firefighters. The retrieval operation lasted for more than four hours, resulting in substantial towing expenses.
In addition, underwater swimmers may need to dive in with restricted breathing equipment in order to connect the sunken vehicle to a tow truck. These specialized breathing devices can be quite expensive, costing approximately $600.
The men may be subjected to fines by the Environmental police for breaching regulations. If the vehicle leaks fluid, pollutes the water, or causes damage to the ecosystem, the fines could potentially escalate by thousands of dollars.
If the truck owner chooses to purchase comprehensive coverage, their insurance will likely cover the damages.