Snowmobile Riders Fall Through Ice In Michigan Center

According to WILX, three men were taken to the hospital early this morning after falling through the ice while snowmobiling on Center Lake in Michigan Center. Officials say the men hit a patch of open water on the lake. The men were able to get out of the water and get to an island in the lake where they were eventually rescued by Napoleon Township's ice water and rescue team.

The Michigan DNR is continuing to warn residents about the dangers of thin ice this winter due to warmer temperatures. Here are some of the tips they want Michigan residents to keep in mind:

• Clear ice that has a bluish tint is the strongest. Ice formed by melted and refrozen snow appears milky, and is very porous and weak.
• Ice covered by snow always should be presumed unsafe. Snow acts like an insulating blanket and slows the freezing process. Ice under the snow will be thinner and weaker. A snowfall also can warm up and melt existing ice.
• If there is slush on the ice, stay off. Slush ice is only about half as strong as clear ice and indicates the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom.

For a complete list of DNR tips and suggestions to be safe on the ice this winter, click here.

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