Teen Boy Dies After Falling Through Ice In North East

NORTH EAST, NY — A teenage boy died after falling through ice in Taconic State Park in the town of North East Friday.

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were sent shortly before 3 p.m. Friday to Shagroy Road in North East for a report of someone falling through the ice.

Law enforcement said they found that two teens had walked 20 to 30 feet out onto the ice when it broke.

One of the teens was able to get out of the water and call 911, but the second teen was not.

A dive team arrived and was able to get the second teen out of the water and took him to Sharon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The names of the teens have not been released.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by members of the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, New York State Police, New York State Parks Police, New York State Parks and numerous fire departments from Dutchess and Columbia counties and Connecticut.

Also, dive teams from the sheriff’s office and Goshen, Connecticut, Fire Department responded as did the sheriff’s office Patrol Bureau, Marine Patrol, Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit (drones) and the detective bureau.

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said people should use extreme caution when walking onto ice, especially during periods of fluctuating temperatures.

People should never walk or skate on ice until it has been determined that it is 100 percent safe to do so and there’s someone monitoring you from land who can get help if needed, the sheriff’s office said. Also, never ignore signs that warn people to stay off the ice.

Many times the ice may appear to be safe but isn’t, and needless tragedies can result if it breaks, authorities said.