Warman Fire Rescue and RCMP responded to the Clarkboro Ferry Crossing early Sunday morning after reports of a truck sinking through the ice.
Warman Fire Chief Russ Austin said his ice crew technicians arrived on scene around 7:30 a.m.
“It looked to be a half-ton style truck, half submerged in the water, halfway across what would be the Clarksboro Ferry Crossing in the middle of the South Saskatchewan River,” Austin said.
First responders searched the vehicle and didn't find anyone inside, Austin said.
“We got a plate number for the RCMP and turned all of the information over to them so police can continue their investigation,” he added.
Austin said there has been three incidents, all without any serious injuries, over the past 12 months where vehicles have gone through the ice.
The fire chief is urging all motorists to stay off the crossing.
“Any moving water, the ice on it is never stable and even though that’s a known route for crossing people have used before, it is not approved by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways, nor by us.”
Austin said conditions on the ice can change in an instant as water levels are controlled by water moving through a dam.
“One day there might not be much for water flow and your ice might be three feet thick, the next day they might have increased the flow five-fold and just because of the water flow, you might have eaten away that three feet of ice down to six inches, it’s very unstable.”
The Clarksboro Ferry Crossing is located nearly 40 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
