Pine County officials suspend search for body in St. Croix River - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Officials in Pine County have suspended the search for a snowmobiler who broke through the ice on the St. Croix River shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday.

The Pine County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call reporting a snowmobile rider had fallen through the ice about four miles north of the Soderbeck River Landing at the end of County Road 10.

Deputies, firefighters and National Park Service officers responded to the scene in the wilderness, which had no direct road access and they eventually found a partially submerged snowmobile on the edge of a large open area of turbulent water.

Rescuers say no sign of the victim was located, and other riders in the group the victim was traveling with say he had been thrown from the machine and into the river.

Officials believe the victim may have been swept downstream by the river current under the ice pack. Responders did not enter the water due to the dangerous conditions, but an extensive search was conducted on foot, by snowmobile and State Patrol helicopter on Saturday night.

The victim has not been identified pending notification of next of kin.

Just hours after that accident, Pine County officials responded to a second 911 call about a snowmobile accident on Pokegama Lake.

Deputies and emergency medical personnel were dispatched at about 9:15 p.m. and found the victim about 1,000 feet from the shore on the ice.

Officials say the victim suffered significant, life-threatening injuries and was transported by rescue sled to an air ambulance waiting nearby.

Investigators believe the victim struck a partially-submerged island and was thrown from the snowmobile.