10 Trailers Fall Through Ice in Minn.

By Associated Press

January 5, 2002, 2:43 PM EST

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. -- Nearly a dozen large trailers parked on Big Detroit Lake for a snowmobile race sank into the water Saturday when the ice was weakened by mild temperatures.

There were no injuries, but some trailers and the equipment inside were completely submerged in the northwestern Minnesota lake.

"It's a terrible situation, especially for the racers," Fire Chief Jeff Swanson said. "We've got a lot of dollars in the water."

Wally Scheer, director of the World Snowmobile Association Pro Ice race, said a driver called him at about 5 a.m. from inside one of the sinking trailers. Temperatures reached 30 on Saturday.

Race crews scrambled to move their snowmobiles and other vehicles to dry land, but much of the equipment ended up in the water, Scheer said. Divers and salvage crews were trying to recover the vehicles Saturday.

Scheer said Saturday's race would probably take place, but with a late start. Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002