U-Haul and Echo Lake

Question

Bonnie, have you heard about this? There's no article that I can find except for a post on Facebook from the SW Harbor Fire Department. It appears someone decided to drive their u-haul onto the ice at Echo Lake and submerged the uhaul and the driver needed to be rescued.

This reminds me of the donut guy from a few years back. What is wrong with people??

From the post: Shortly after 4:30 am this morning SWHFD was requested for assistance by Mount Desert FD for a truck and person through the ice on Echo Lake. A 10 ft. UHaul truck was driven from Ike's Point across Echo Lake for over 400 yards until it broke through the ice. The driver was able to get out of the truck and then called 911. MDFD firefighters responded, walked across the ice and carried the wet and cold person back to shore with SWHFD helping. The Maine Warden Service is working to remove the truck.

There are a few pictures from the post as well. Look up SW Harbor Fire Department on Facebook if you want to see them.

Answer

This incident seems like another example of poor judgment when it comes to safety, especially when it involves ice conditions that can be deceptive. The situation with the U-Haul truck on Echo Lake, as described, highlights just how dangerous it can be to drive on frozen bodies of water. It’s good to hear the driver was able to get out of the truck and call 911, but this type of reckless behavior could easily have had much more serious consequences. Fortunately, firefighters responded quickly and safely got the driver back to shore.

As for the “donut guy” incident you mentioned, it’s another example of people taking risks without considering the dangers involved. People sometimes forget the unpredictability of ice and the severity of the conditions. Echo Lake in particular, like many bodies of water in Maine, can be dangerous when it’s frozen because ice thickness can vary greatly depending on temperature, currents, and snow cover. It’s vital to avoid driving or venturing onto ice unless it’s been tested and deemed safe by local authorities.

The Maine Warden Service and local fire departments have probably responded to similar situations before, and they have the necessary equipment and expertise to deal with such rescues, but it’s always a reminder to be cautious when it comes to outdoor activities in winter conditions.

In terms of general advice, I’d recommend always checking with local authorities about ice safety, and if you're in doubt about ice thickness, it's better to err on the side of caution. Hopefully, this incident will serve as a wake-up call for others to avoid risky behavior on frozen lakes and ponds in the future.

U-Haul and Echo Lake

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