Drowned Ice Skater Identified, will U.S. Forest Service take action?

On Saturday afternoon, at least 8 ice skaters were located at Stampede Reservoir, 7 miles from the California-Nevada border, and near Truckee in Northern California. Of these 8, 6 fell into the water. The two who remained above water were able to save 5 of these, but one was too far away to be helped.

On Sunday, the drowned skater was found, and on Monday, 72-year-old William Smallfield was identified by authorities. According to Nevada state fire officials, this was likely due to fluctuating temperatures during the season, eventually causing the ice to melt and crack under the weight. 

Mercury News states that temperatures at the lake had reached 52 degrees on the day of the incident.

As reported by NBC News, a spokesperson for a fire agency in Washoe County, Nevada is begging everyone to stay off the ice. “Our weather fluctuates too much and is too inconsistent to ever deem for safe conditions on ponds or lakes,” says Adam Mayberry. “Despite overnight cold temperatures, never walk on ice or a pond here in Northern Nevada.”

Other than Smallfield’s drowning, the only other reported injury is that of a dislocated shoulder on one of the other surviving skaters, according to CBS Local Sacramento. This person was airlifted to a local hospital following the incident and then released on Saturday. 

Smallfield’s body was found under the water, at 37 feet deep. He was noted as a longtime employee of Tahoe Dave’s, a rental chain for skis and snowboards.

On Saturday, an air search and dive team were both unable to locate Smallfield’s body, but a group of search and rescue workers and divers were able to recover the body on Sunday. As noted by ABC, these groups included the Washoe County Hasty Team and the Placer County Dive Team.

Additionally, an article by KCRA claims that the help of a remote-operated vehicle and air search operations were also utilized to aid in the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office’s search. Further, credit has been given to CareFlight and CHP helicopters for providing care to the five people who survived the fall into the icy water.

The U.S. Forest Service, which controls the national forest in which Stampede Reservoir is located, is also asking that people “recreate with caution” near frozen bodies of water. However, it remains unclear what necessary actions they will take in order to keep people safe.

This is especially the case when families have since been skating on frozen lakes and bodies of water just miles away from the accident site, bringing pets and children. This is despite warnings about the ice not staying completely frozen and claims from fire agency spokespeople warning of “extreme danger.”

One of the survivors from the skating accident, Laura Kottlowski, claimed that all of the skaters had years of experience and even measured the thickness of the ice at 3 or 4 inches that morning. She shares the concern that the warm temperature increased the danger, also citing wind-driven currents weakening the ice.

According to Kottlowski, Smallfield’s wife was also among the group of skaters who survived.