Two Delta County men died when they drove a 15,000-pound Sno-Cat onto a frozen lake and the machine plunged through the ice into frigid water.
The bodies of the men, identified by the coroner’s office as Ryan Wells and Ricky Colton, both 30, were recovered Monday afternoon from Island Lake on the Grand Mesa.
Late Monday afternoon, members of Summit County Search and Rescue used a remote operated vehicle to locate the Sno-Cat in about 65 feet of water, according to a news release. The ROV, which has a retractable arm, was able to retrieve the bodies and bring them to the surface.
The two men had been staying at the nearby Grand Mesa Lodge. At about 1 a.m. Sunday, the lodge owner, Michael Wenner, reported hearing the Sno-Cat starting. As concerns about the men’s whereabouts and their safety arose, the sheriff’s office was called.
A family member of Wells responded with a snowmobile and followed the vehicle’s tracks onto the lake, according to a news release. About 150 yards from shore, near the center of the lake, a large hole was found in the ice.
Read the full story via The Denver Post.