Man Dies Trying to Retrieve Sunken Vehicle From a Montana Lake
After the vehicle went through the ice, it settled in one of the deepest parts of the lake.
It is not an uncommon occurrence during Montana's winter months. The actual thickness and stability of the ice can be deceiving at times. And naturally, efforts are going to be made to retrieve those vehicles when warmer weather allows.
113-feet deep water was the situation facing 55-year-old William Dreyer of Bozeman, Montana, who along with a fellow diver, was trying to retrieve a vehicle that went through the ice on Canyon Ferry Lake this winter. Jonathon Ambarian with MTN News reports that Mr. Dreyer died over the weekend after an incident while scuba diving.
In Jonathon Ambarian's account, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff-Coroner Leo Dutton's investigation revealed that the two divers were trying to raise up a vehicle by applying airbags. An equipment malfunction occurred, draining William Dreyer's tank. The other diver, also from Bozeman, attached a rope and began pulling Mr. Dreyer up to the surface. Once brought to the surface, CPR was performed, but they were not able to resuscitate him. Officials with Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks were the first to respond to the call.
The tragedy occurred about one mile south of Canyon Ferry's Cemetery Island. Sheriff Dutton said the incident is still being investigated, and that “There’s a lot to investigate: equipment malfunctions, those type of things – properly maintained." The sheriff also said that at a depth of about 113 feet, a person needs to be certified to dive to that level.
The official cause and manner of death were to be reported after an autopsy, which was scheduled for today (Tuesday).
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