SASKATOON — Aberdeen and District Fire Department Chief Adrien Hamoline reminds residents to avoid crossing the South Saskatchewan River at the Clarkboro Ferry Crossing northeast of Saskatoon.
Hamoline issued the reminder after the AFD rescued a man who attempted to cross the partially frozen river. However, with the snow melting and the spring season now underway, the ice is no longer thick enough to cross to the other side of the river.
Early on Monday, March 24, a vehicle plunged into the icy water as the driver tried to cross the river. The ferry crossing at Clarkboro is busy during the summer, but it becomes an ice road in winter for residents and others to cross the river.
Hamoline told SaskToday the man managed to get out of his vehicle and was already at the shore when fire crews responded. He added that the driver stayed inside his car until it reached about four feet of the water and crawled out.
The person then managed to get out of his vehicle, stayed on top of it and crawled onto the ice to reach the shore. No additional information was provided regarding the driver's status.
Hamoline said that they are not aware if there are deeper areas of the river where the driver or other persons could have drowned when trying to use the unofficial ice road during winter.
“We never had to rescue anyone from a vehicle or recover anybody in a deeper area. We never have to rescue anyone inside a vehicle; they always manage to get themselves out. We did not recover the vehicle since that is not our job,” Hamoline said.
“There is usually an incident of a vehicle getting into the icy water once a year. It's an annual occurrence, but they always get themselves out.”
He said he also uses the ice road to cross during the winter, but he reminded residents that no one should attempt to cross it at this time of year.
“Do not make the crossing as temperatures start to warm up. The ice could crack and open anytime, causing your vehicle to be submerged in the water,” Hamoline said.
