No injuries after truck goes through ice on Meredith Bay Thursday

MEREDITH — Temperatures have been dipping below zero this week, but that doesn’t mean the ice is thick everywhere, as evidenced by a pickup truck which went through the ice on Lake Winnipesaukee Thursday afternoon.

Fire Chief Ken Jones said the department was called at 4:42 p.m. on Jan. 29, for a report of a truck through the ice in Meredith Bay, with no people in danger. The truck was between Hesky Park and Bay Point at Mill Falls, and when firefighters arrived, the owner of the truck was out of the vehicle.

“Part of the vehicle was in the water,” Jones said. “It is basically the canal, in the inlet dumping in from Waukewan, where the ice doesn’t form well, due to the movement in that location.”

Meredith Bay is currently full of spectators and participants for the New England Pond Hockey Classic, as well as bob houses set up for the upcoming Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby. Meredith Bay serves as the headquarters for both events, which attract thousands of people between the two.

Much of the bay is safe, with plenty of ice formed due to freezing temperatures, but Jones explained the current in that area doesn’t allow for the ice to fully freeze, regardless of how cold the water gets.

“Depending on what is flowing down from the dam determines how far that kicks out,” Jones said.

Jones said it appears the truck was too close to the edge of the inlet, which is in line with the outflow of water from the Mill Falls waterfall across the street.

He said people need to be careful when driving on the ice no matter what. Not only are there areas with currents, like this one, there are also bubblers installed around many docks around the lake, causing ice to be thin or non-existent.

“When someone enter the ice, they should know what they are doing, and make sure the ice is safe when they are entering,” Jones said.

According to reports from the scene, Meredith Police and firefighters were surveying a white pickup truck partly submerged in the lake with headlights still on. Caution tape was seen between the truck and pop-up bob houses adjacent to ice rinks set up for the Pond Hockey Classic.

Marine Solutions Co-Owner Tim McDonald said his crew removed the truck with cooperation from Harper’s Towing.

“We have pretty specialized on-ice and salvage equipment, so we worked directly with Harper’s to get the truck up and on the ice,” McDonald said. “We salvage boats, snowmobiles, planes, you name it.”

For Marine Solutions, this is the sixth vehicle this year they've recovered, but the first truck. This is somewhat expected, McDonald said, with the early onset of winter and cold temperatures of late.

McDonald echoed Jones in saying this area of the bay always has thin ice, because of its location with continuously moving water.

“There might be a skim over of ice, but it’s only a skim,” McDonald said. “The whole truck did end up going under before we got it out.”

No injuries were reported.