MORRISON COUNTY --  A 59-year old Cushing man died when his 4-wheel vehicle broke through the ice of Lake Alexander in the northwest corner of Morrison County.

Morrison County Sheriff’s officers were called to the scene just after 6 p.m. Saturday by a caller who saw someone driving a four- wheeler east of Soldier Island and when he did not return, the caller drove out to check on him.

The caller found a hole in the ice with tracks leading to it, but no tracks leading away.

Motley and Pillager Police, Morrison County’s Dive Team, a DNR Conservation officer, Scandia Valley Fire and Rescue and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the scene.

They found the body of Gary Donald Deppa face down in the water at the edge of a 20 foot hole broken in the ice.  Deppa was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel said thin ice, darkness and the distance from shore hampered recovery efforts.

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