Waskish: Pickup Breaks Through Upper Red Lake Ice

Waskish: Pickup Breaks Through Upper Red Lake Ice
Waskish: Pickup Breaks Through Upper Red Lake Ice

WASKISH, Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A pickup is reported to have gone through the ice on Upper Red Lake on Thursday afternoon.

The incident was reported about three miles west of Waskish on Upper Red Lake.

TRF News was told the driver got out safely.

The report came from another person who was fishing in the area.

No name was released in the information provided to TRF News.

As of this report, no injuries were confirmed by officials.

Waskish: Pickup Breaks Through Upper Red Lake Ice
Waskish: Pickup Breaks Through Upper Red Lake Ice

What we know so far

The report said the pickup went through the ice and sank.

The truck was described as being at the bottom of the lake.

The incident happened on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

The witness described it as a Thursday afternoon incident.

The exact time was not provided.

TRF News has not confirmed the make or model of the pickup.

What we do not know yet

The driver’s name has not been released.

We do not know if a tow or recovery effort has started.

We do not know if any citations were issued.

We also do not know the ice thickness at the location.

The Minnesota DNR notes ice is never 100% safe.

The DNR also says it does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes.

See the DNR’s ice safety guidance here: Minnesota DNR Ice Safety.

Ice safety reminders

The DNR advises drivers to know ice thickness before traveling.

General thickness guidance is posted here: DNR ice thickness guidelines.

The DNR also shares steps to take if a vehicle breaks through.

That guidance is posted here: What if your vehicle breaks through?.

If you see a vehicle in the ice, call 911.

Do not go onto unsafe ice to help.

Local resources

Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office information is available here: Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.

227 comments

    1. Derek Johnson I know 25 yrs ago my neighbor dropped his new truck thru the ice ….. he said he got a new truck BUT that was is last chance one and done

    3. Terry Carpentier what fluids are going into the water?… The radiator won’t leak… The fuel tank won’t leak… the engine will only leak if it sits there a LONG time… The tranny won’t leak for a VERY LONG time… Dumping a deep fryer is more harmful than a new vehicle getting wet…

    1. SamRose Cloud very true but a car sat in a lake in the Minneapolis area for weeks and the dnr did nothing so even the dnr don’t care if we drop a car in there’s obviously no rush to get it out 🙄🙄🙄🙄

  22. People r to lazy and spoiled….. if the state wanna make lots of money just fine these clowns like 50,000$ plus recovery … I bet they will start walking.
    I’ve fished on ice ALOT and I use my 2 legs and a heavy chisel to go where I. Need to go… I have NO sympathy for these people

  26. Do these incidents get reported to EPA? Every year upper red lake is being contaminated by vehicles, atvs, and human fecal & urine. Have some respect

      2. Josh Jordan does it matter? I can still have an opinion on how these incidents are causing contamination whether or not I fish. Fishermen are not the only people who have the right to speak on this

      3. Alyssa Beaulieu well, that took a turn. I was honestly curious. I didn’t defend anyone or even accuse you of having an opinion. Best of luck to you. Happy Holidays.

    3. Alyssa Beaulieu I know someone who worked on the road construction in Red lake right by Native care…. he told me how the waste water system was messed up for months on end and Red lake was just pumping the waste water straight into lower Red lake…. and anyone that drives through there can see the piles of junk and trash in yards…. I agree with you…. People everywhere need to have a little more respect.

    4. Alyssa Beaulieu Its a legal n sensible comment or ??. Yes,Please have decency 2 keep ur area DEBRI FREE.Proper disposal helps.N as far yrds. Go its everywhere,,,Off our lands 2.RESPECT N KEEP UR AREA PICKED UP. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE WORKS ALL TOGETHER👍✌😊❤

    5. Alyssa Beaulieu RL fisherman’s running joke “we know the ice is safe to drive on when the ppl on upper red stop falling thru” 😂😂 ugh how they gna say we ruined the lake but are so desperate for that lil qtr of it they get access to and put vehicles in it left and right

    1. David Bawden III more than that 14-16″ people that venture away from the resort checked areas need to check for them selves! This is what assumptions give you.

  43. This should be made into a legal holiday! These morons can all get together and fall through so we can celebrate them because it happens every year! And it’s not even just people who dont know better! But this is funny every time I see these posts! (providing now human idiots were hurt in the making of these posts)!!!

  45. Everyone is so jumpy once a truck falls through but didn’t happen to notice that he tried to cross a pressure ridge. Everything aside hopefully everyone is okay.

  46. Are we surprised no…Will we laugh yes 😆 every yr it happens i think red lake should start a raffle or drawing to see when they have to go rescue there 1st breakthrough

    1. Curtis Laroque Sr. Maybe keep your fucking laughs to yourself!
      My husband drowned last year when our pickup went through the ice.
      Someone removed a fishouse that had the ice eroded and never marked the spot, then the day before my husband drowned, a snow mobile went through in that same spot and never marked it!
      Then the next day, our pickup went through that unmarked spot that had 1 ” of ice!!!
      The rest of the lake had 18 inches!!!
      NOT A FUCKING LAUGHING MATTER to the surviving family !
      Hope nothing happens to your loved ones!
      I live with this shit daily and it isn’t fun.

  53. Chad Davis no just care about the lake. I see there’s alot of other people talking shit. I asked if these are reported and my comment has the most responses

  69. Well no shit it’s gonna go through the vehicle is heavy and the ice is not hard enough for that . Some dumb ppl just can’t wait till the ice is fully frozen.

    2. Landon Entinger lol yall funny if you think insurance just gonna cover it. Good luck they gonna investigate every aspect of it. And likely tell you you shouldn’t have been on thin ice like a dipshit, will they cover it sure in some cases but best believe your ass they are going to do everything possible to not cover it. So you want to take that risk go for it. 75% my family are insurance agents. Have fun buddy

    5. Steven Campeau name the insurance company that won’t cover it! Because they won’t ever get my business. I bet you won’t name the insurance company 75% of your family works for… Bet my lawyer calls once and they cover ALL my bills- rental, lost equipment, hotel, even my wet cell phone…

  89. Steven Campeau Steve you seem to be saying this with conviction, and you couldn’t be more wrong! Speaking from experience. Most states actually require insurance to cover these situations as they don’t want the truck saying under the ice.

  96. Alex Saint you fucken stupid fucken shit bag fucken can’t learn shit every year you stupid fucken white perverted Cho Moe’s are always falling though the ice lmmfao fact’s just like you can’t fix the fact that you’re nothing but a European American immigrant 😂😂😂😂

  102. Alex Saint State Farm war and cover you if you have storm damage or damage on your home. Have your truck fall through or your icehouse and see if they actually do cover it I bet you they won’t. They’ll figure out a way to drag it out and never pay you biggest crooks on the planet.

  103. I know. I’ve had a house fire. I’ve dealt with them before. But honestly to god I asked them jokingly and they said they will cover everything. He said they’d probably drop me afterwards , but its covered

  128. When this happens, how much does it cost to get it pulled out? If this ever happened, our insurance will cover the vehicle and our ice castle if it breaks through, but it will not cover the extraction. I’m just curious.

    2. Joe Jensen the one that went through last year didn’t go all the way, just dropped the ass end of the truck and front end of the fish house and it was $15,000 for the group from Bemidji to even come look at it 😬

  165. yall gotta be some of the DUMBEST motherfuckers ever to bring a 1.5-3ton vehicle on the damn ice. im sorry but a few days of weather below 0 aint gonna make that ice rock solid🤣

  167. I’m getting an idea. An ice-truck “floaty”. An undercarriage emergency raft to keep the truck above the water. Maybe could use expired airplane slides.

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