Lake Winnebago victims identified
MCT REGIONAL NEWS
By Ben Poston
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(MCT)
Feb. 15--Authorities have identified a girl who died after her father’s truck fell through the ice on Lake Winnebago Saturday.
Savannah Kleinhans, 9, of Cambria, died as a result of drowning, according to the Calumet County Sheriff’s Department.
Daniel M. Kleinhans, 44, of St. Nazianz, also died after the pickup truck he was driving in fell through a crack in the ice on the lake.
A third person, an 8-year-old friend of Savannah’s, was transported from Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa. Her condition is not known, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Saturday was the opening day of the sturgeon spearing season, which draws thousands of vehicles out on the frozen lake every year. Relatives of the victims said the three were spearing sturgeon.
At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Daniel Kleinhans was driving his truck about a half-mile south of the town of Quinney when the front of his pickup hit a large crack in the ice that had opened Tuesday, said Calumet County Sheriff Gerald Pagel.
The girls were in the water for between 20 and 30 minutes before members of the Stockbridge Fire Department pulled them out, Pagel said.
Daniel Kleinhans was submerged for about 90 minutes before a Fond du Lac County sheriff’s dive team recovered his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff said.
—————
To see more of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.jsonline.com.
(c) 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Feb 16, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
So Sad. That is all that can be said.
Feb 16, 2009 at 8 a.m.
Suggest removal
I've stressed to my young daughter NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER go out on a lake/river/stream that's been frozen. It's so unpredictable. It's not worth the risk. My heart goes out to these families.
Feb 15, 2009 at 10:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
The snow that fell had covered the crack in the ice so they didnt see it.
Thoughts are with the family and the girl in the hospital.
Feb 15, 2009 at 8:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
what a shame
Feb 15, 2009 at 7:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
very sad my heart goes out to all that are involved!
Feb 15, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
I'm not being insincere, I've always wondered why people drive on the ice for this exact reason.
Prayers to the surviving child and the families!
Feb 15, 2009 at 6:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
It is really something to see going out on that lake during the spearing season. But as with any large body of (water) Ice tends to shift creating cracks and weak spots. It is a really bad situation when something like this happens and I hope the other little girl pulls through this. Thoughts and prayers are going out for the families.
Feb 15, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
So sad. Prayers to the families.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.