lake winnebago wisconsin

goes through ice
QUINNEY (AP) — Authorities confirm it was a father and his 9-year-old daughter who died when their pickup went through thin ice on Lake Winnebago Saturday.

The Calumet County Sheriff's Department identifies the victims as 44-year-old Dan Kleinhans of St. Nazianz and his daughter, Savannah Kleinhans of Cambria.

Authorities say Savannah drowned. The cause of her father's death is pending autopsy results.

A second girl who was in the pickup — a friend of Savannah's — was taken to a Milwaukee hospital. Her condition was unknown Sunday.

The truck hit a crack in the ice that had frozen over in a thin layer and was partially obscured by snow, Sheriff Jerry Pagel said.

"If you were not aware of it, you probably wouldn't have known it was there," he said.

The three occupants were unresponsive when they were pulled from the vehicle.

The girls were in the water for 20 to 30 minutes before emergency officials pulled them out. They were flown to a hospital, Savannah Kleinhans died about 3:45 p.m., Pagel said.

The other girl was between 8 and 10.

Dan Kleinhans was submerged for about 90 minutes before a dive team removed his body.

The accident happened about half a mile from the shore, about a mile south of Quinney in east-central Wisconsin.

Saturday was the opening day for the annual sturgeon-spearing season. Kleinhans and the girls were enjoying the experience, driving from one shanty to another while visiting with other enthusiasts, Pagel said.

Tom Roberts, a member of the Quinney Fishing Club, said he was spearing in an ice shanty about 150 yards away. He and others rushed to help but the truck sank too quickly.

"By the time we got out there, all we saw was the tailgate," Roberts said.

Pagel said the truck remained submerged late Saturday and would remain there at least until Sunday.

The sheriff warned other spearers to be especially cautious on the ice.

"If you're not familiar with the lake I would not suggest driving around out there," Pagel said.

I heard about it, its really sad...

Very sad story! Thanks for the info, Scott!

That is truly sad when it has to take a life but when it takes 2 little kids lives it is beyond sad that is devastating to the family prayers are sent out that is for sure.

That sucks.