Two Owen County teens die following fall through ice

SPENCER -- Two Owen County teens died Sunday after falling through ice while fishing on a rural rock quarry north of Spencer.

Owen County Sheriff's Dispatch received a call about the incident at 1:28 p.m.

First responders arrived and navigated steep rocky terrain to reach the waters edge. Indiana Conservation Officer divers located the two juveniles within minutes of entering the water.

They had been submerged for approximately an hour and a half in 11 feet of water.

The two victims -- Clark "Edward" Shoemaker, 17, Spencer, and Dominic Arthur, 13, Coal City -- were pronounced dead at IU Health Bloomington Hospital.

The pair had been ice fishing with family members at the rock quarry near the 2400 block of Romona Road in rural Owen County. The ice was measured at less than three inches thick.

Responding agencies include Indiana Conservation Officers, Owen County Sheriff's Department, Owen Valley Fire, Owen County Rescue, Owen County EMS and Air Evac.

Indiana Conservation Officers note that the warming temperatures had contributed to the deterioration of the ice. Fishermen are advised to always verify the thickness of the ice before venturing out on it.