Overview
- The incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. Sunday near Tower, Minnesota, close to the Tavern in the Bay restaurant.
- The group included four adults and two children, and all made it out of the water with bystander assistance.
- Five people were transported to a hospital in Virginia for treatment of exposure, and no deaths were reported.
- Authorities say the two lead snowmobiles broke through near a pressure ridge; one machine sank and another remained stuck in the ice.
- Officials emphasized variable ice conditions and the Minnesota DNR’s guidance of at least 5 inches of clear ice for snowmobiles, as local trail leaders urged extra caution and advised against night travel this week.