Driver uninjured when truck goes through Lake Onalaska thin ice

The driver of a pickup truck was cold but unhurt Friday night after he and his vehicle went through thin ice on Lake Onalaska.

Lt. Jim Netwal with the Onalaska Fire Department said they were called around 6:21 for the incident.

He said he could see the truck on the ice as they were going to the scene along Highway 35 which overlooks the lake. The truck appeared mostly out of the water, Lt. Netwal said.

The Campbell Fire Department, Brice Prairie First Responders, and La Crosse County Dive Rescue also came to assist. Lt. Netwal said

Onalaska and Brice Prairie staged their rescue efforts at Mosey Landing to the north of where the truck went in.

Campbell and the dive rescue team, set up by Fisherman’s Road to the south in case they were able to easier access to get the man.

Lt. Netwal said a civilian with an fanboat, or airboat, by the landing offered to take first responders out to the truck. They went out and got the man and brought him back to shore.

No one else was injured.

Lt. Netwal did have some advice. “The ice right now is not safe to drive to be driving on. I think at this point, people should be walking on the ice.”