Water Emergency Involving ATV near Voyageur National Park

LAKE KABETOGAMA, Minn. – On the afternoon of April 4, around 3:04, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Lake Kabetogama regarding a water emergency involving an ATV.

The ATV had gone through the ice north of the Ash River Visitor Center in Voyageur National Park and north of Sullivan narrows.

Thirty-six-year-old Jay Podpeskar of Britt, Minnesota and 30-year-old Robert Crowe of Chisholm, were fishing on Lake Kabetogama during the day and were heading back to the Visitor Center, when the incident occurred.

Podpeskar was operating the ATV, and Crowe was being towed behind the sled, in an attempt to disperse their weight on the ice, but the ice gave way and they entered the water. Podpeskar was able to get out of the water and use a rope to pull Crowe out.

Voyageur Park Service employees were nearby and witnessed the incident. The employees quickly fastened two canoes together and utilized them to rescue both men from the lake.

Crowe was transported to International Falls hospital for treatment and observation. Podpeskar was not injured in the incident.

Recovery of the ATV will happen once the ice clears out.

This is the second ice related incident to occur within the past two days in Northern St. Louis County. The Sheriff’s Office urges citizens and outdoor enthusiasts to stay off lakes due to unsafe ice conditions. Warmer weather has rapidly deteriorated ice conditions in the area.