Man Drowns While Ice Fishing In Thumb

ARCADIA TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - A Lapeer County ice fisherman is dead after falling through the ice on a lake.

Officials at the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department said 49-year old Douglas Mott was found in Stanton Lake northwest of Imlay City Thursday morning.   The ice was only about two inches thick.

Investigators are calling it an accidental drowning.

A deputy on patrol saw a vehicle parked near the lake and saw tracks leading to an open hole in the ice and a plastic bucket nearby.  After using his speaker to see if anyone was around, the deputy called for an ice rescue team and Lapeer County Sheriff's Department Dive Team.

Before the dive team arrived, Mott was found in the water.

Emergency crews pulled him out and began life saving measures. Mott was then transported to McLaren Lapeer Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.