One man drowns, one escapes injury as UTVs go through Heritage Lake ice

Saturday, February 2, 2019 ~ Updated 9:28 PM
Rescue efforts under way at Heritage Lake. Putnam County Sheriff's Department photo

HERITAGE LAKE -- Two people went through the ice and under the water at Heritage Lake in a UTV accident that cost a Putnam County man his life Saturday afternoon.

The victim, Brett Crowder, 48, Coatesville (Heritage Lake), was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:04 p.m. after being pulled from the icy waters moments earlier by rescue divers.

The other man, later identified as John Roberts, 47, Coatesville (Heritage Lake), made it out of the water and reached the shoreline at Emergency Exit 3, near the marina. There he was ultimately picked up and helped into a vehicle by Reserve Deputy Ken Rozelle, who resides at the lake.

The fatal incident began to unfold about 1:15 p.m. when three men ice fishing in the area of the dam witnessed two UTVs "driving fast, doing spin-outs and doing doughnuts on the ice," Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton told the Banner Graphic.

The UTVs then reportedly sped across the lake to the northeast, where the fishermen lost sight of them when the sport utility (or off-road) vehicles went into the water.

Initially it was unclear Saturday afternoon how many people were aboard the other UTV, which the witnesses believed possibly had two people in the front and one in the back when it entered the water.

"Every rescue effort is being made by a lot of agencies," Sheriff Stockton said at the time, noting that DNR had brought in an airboat to assist in the search.

About 3:45 p.m. Conservation Officer divers located the second UTV, upside down at the bottom of the lake. Crowder, who had been in the water more than two hours by that time, was still strapped into the vehicle.

Airboat ready to launch to continue looking for possible victim at Heritage Lake.

Roberts, who was able to get to shore and escape serious injury, was not belted into his vehicle, Stockton noted.

Divers were able to locate Crowder in approximately 30 feet of water. The ice surrounding the area where the UTV broke through was approximately two inches thick, authorities reported.

The Putnam County coroner pronounced Crowder dead at the scene. The death investigation is being conducted by Indiana Conservation Officers and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department with a toxicology report scheduled.

The UTVs will be recovered at a later date.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, the search continued for a possible additional victims but by 4:30 it was discontinued after confirmation from Roberts that only one person was aboard the other vehicle.

Roberts also told Sheriff Stockton that he had never met Crowder until encountering him at the lake aboard his UTV Saturday, ending speculation that they were two buddies out joyriding at the lake.

The incident occurred with air temperatures at 44 degrees and the ice unstable in the deeper areas of the lake, although it was good enough to support ice fishermen near the shoreline.

"Please remember that no ice is safe ice," Indiana Conservation Officer Lt. Angela Goldman urged. "It is recommended to have four inches of clear ice before walking on it, and five to six inches before operating an ORV (off-road vehicle) or snowmobile."

Warmer temperatures this week will make for unsafe ice in many locations, she added.

In addition to Conservation Officers and the Sheriff's Department, multiple other agencies at the scene included the Floyd Township, Cloverdale and Plainfield fire departments, divers from Danville, Pike and Perry townships (Indianapolis), Operation Life and more.

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