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Michigan Man Dies After Utility Vehicle Goes Through Ice

SANFORD, Mich. (AP/WWJ) - Authorities say a man has died after the utility vehicle he was riding went through ice on a lake in mid-Michigan.

The Midland Daily News reports the 57-year-old man was pulled from the water Tuesday night by the Edenville Township Fire Department at Sanford Lake in Midland County and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name wasn't immediately released.

The lake is located about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.

Capt. Tracy Thomas says the company that operates the Edenville Dam at the lake slowed the release of water to assist with rescue efforts. The newspaper says the vehicle the man was driving was being removed from the lake so water flow can be restored.

As always, the Coast Guard urges everyone to use common sense, reminding people who venture out onto melting and weakening ice that they are not only putting their own lives in danger, but the lives of first responders.

Fluctuating temperatures can cause frozen waters to melt at an alarming rate and, when the air feels warmer, the water will remain dangerously cold.

Ice is unpredictable and the thickness can vary, even in small areas. Warm temperatures and currents, particularly around narrow spots, bridges, inlets and outlets, are always suspect for thin ice. Stay away from cracks, seams, pressure ridges, slushy areas and darker areas since these signify thinner ice.

In addition, ice near shore of a frozen lake may be unsafe and weaker because of shifting, expansion, wind and sunlight reflecting from the bottom.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends doing the following before heading out onto the ice or onto the water:

•  Take the necessary precautions that could save your life.

• Always wear a life jacket. A life jacket allows a person to float with a minimum of energy expended and allows the person to assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position by bringing the knees close to the chest and holding them in place by wrapping the arms around the shin portions of the legs.

• Dress for the water temperature not the air temperature. Don't let warm temperatures deceive you. Wear a dry suit in any cold-water environment to increase the chance of surviving a fall into the water.

• Hypothermia is the biggest danger after falling into the water, even if one manages to get out immediately. Every minute counts in a cold water environment. Hypothermia sets in quickly as the human body's core temperature drops below 95 degrees (35 degrees C). Preparation may mean the difference between a life saved or a body recovered. Cold water drains a body's heat up to 25 times faster than cold air.

• Dress in bright colors, wear reflective clothing, patches, or tape, and wear an exposure suit that is waterproof. The chance of locating a person in distress is increased when the individual wears bright and reflective clothing.

• Never go out on the water alone; always use the buddy system.

• Carry a registered personal locator beacon in addition to a marine radio to alert the Coast Guard and local safety agencies of potential distress. Consider a waterproof hand-held model that can be worn.

• Carry safety devices such as visual distress signals, a sound-producing device, or screwdrivers or hand picks that can be used to pull yourself out of the water if you fall through the ice.

• Always tell family and friends where you are going and when you expect to be back. Stick to the plan and notify them when plans change.

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© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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