PLATTE COUNTY – On Saturday, February 15 at 9:56 a.m. the Platte County Sheriff’s Office received a report indicating a side-by-side vehicle had possibly gone through the ice at Glendo Reservoir between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

“Two occupants were reported to be in the vehicle, and it is unknown whether they were able to exit,” the department released. “Multiple agencies responded, including Glendo Fire, Glendo EMS, Wyoming Park Rangers, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Camp Guernsey Fire, and Wyoming Game & Fish, along with our office.”

With winter temperatures, search efforts began to locate the vehicle and its occupants. 

“Our ice rescue team immediately began search efforts and located the possible location of the vehicle. While the ice in the area is around 12 inches thick, it is also near a pressure break with four to eight inches of broken ice, making the conditions challenging.

We requested a dive team for assistance, but due to adverse weather conditions, diving operations will be postponed until tomorrow. Albany County Sheriff’s Office: [The] Dive Team arrived around 1700 hours and made an assessment of the scene. They are ready to dive first thing in the morning. In the meantime, an underwater live scope has been deployed to help locate the submerged vehicle,” the department explained Saturday evening. “Active search efforts have been suspended for the night with the declining temperatures and no lighting. This is to ensure the safety of all first responders.”

At 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 16 the Platte County Sheriff’s Office released a statement indicating the incident was complete. 

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team who assisted in the recovery provided a statement Sunday evening. 

“At approximately 5 p.m. (Saturday), the Albany County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team arrived at the scene. After assessing the conditions, it was determined that adverse weather and unsafe ice made it too dangerous to conduct a dive operation that evening. This morning (Sunday), with improved conditions, divers were able to safely enter the water and successfully locate both individuals and their vehicle,” the Albany County Sheriff’s Office said. “We urge the public to exercise extreme caution when traveling on frozen bodies of water, as ice conditions can be unpredictable and dangerous. Additionally, we strongly advise against accessing the ice from the marina on the Glendo Reservoir, as a large channel was cut during this operation, making the area even more hazardous.”

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office sincerely appreciates the efforts of all agencies that assisted in this operation, including the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming State Parks, Wyoming Game and Fish, Glendo Fire/EMS, and the Natrona County Search and Rescue Dive Team. Their teamwork and dedication were instrumental in the recovery process.