Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Firefighters risked their life earlier this year to save an infant trapped in a vehicle that broke through the ice.
The Mound Fire Department was honored with an Award of Merit last night for their emergency response on Jan. 18, 2013, when a vehicle broke through the ice on Lake Minnetonka. Because an infant was trapped in a car seat, two of the firefighters risked their lives by diving underwater and bringing the victim to the surface. Despite the heroic efforts, the infant did not survive. During that incident, firefighters rescued three other family members from the icy waters. Related posts: The award was during the Hennepin County Sheriff Office's annual promotions and awards ceremony at the Marriot in Brooklyn Park.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Lake Minnetonka accident claimed the life of Markle's infant daughter last month. Prosecutors say Markle was legally drunk. Defense attorney says family has already been "visited by extreme pain and hurt."
The father of an infant who drowned last month in Lake Minnetonka made his first court appearance Friday afternoon after being charged earlier in the week with vehicular homicide. Jonathan Markle, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in and surrendered his passport Thursday night. He was assigned a cell and sat behind obscured windows in the courtroom Friday. Prosecutors say Markle was legally drunk on the evening of Jan. 18 when his family’s vehicle broke through the ice underneath the Halstead Bay Bridge in Minnetrista. Markle’s nine-month old daughter Tabitha was trapped in the SUV and died three days after the accident. Markle’s attorney, Joe Friedberg, spoke to reporters following Friday’s hearing and said his client dove down …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Prosecutors say Jonathan Markle was legally drunk when the family's vehicle sunk in a channel last month.
The father of an infant who drowned after their family vehicle broke through the ice on Lake Minnetonka last month has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide. Prosecutors say Jonathan Markle's blood alcohol level was .13 when he attempted to drive underneath the Halstead Bay Bridge Jan. 18. The vehicle sunk in about six feet of water, trapping nine-month-old Tabitha Markle for more than 15 minutes. Jonathan Markle told police that he had two beers at dinner, but prosecutors say a blood sample tested nearly twice the legal limit. Markle has a prior DWI conviction on his driving record, according to court records. Related posts: Hennepin County Mike Freeman said Thursday that the legal system has "no penalty that can approach the …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Steve Erdahl says driver climbed back into vehicle to retrieve item from floorboard; More than 15 vehicles have gone through the ice on Lake Minnetonka this season, resulting in three deaths.
Steve Erdahl and his dog Chewy were out for a walk early Tuesday evening and on their way back home when they suddenly found themselves in the middle of an emergency. “We walked to Big Island, and the sun was just setting,” Erdahl said. “We got up by the yacht club and this guy goes by me relatively fast in an SUV doing about 30.“ A pressure ridge formed near the yacht club about three weeks ago and extends out into the bay about 300 yards. Signs mark the dangerous ice—as do several holes where cars have already gone in this winter. Erdahl said the driver slowed down to about 10 mph when he reached the channel area. The next thing he knew, the Honda was half submerged—nose down—in the water. “One second you’re walking on the ice with your …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Cars through the ice; snowmobiles sunk; three dead; ice fisherman react; more than a dozen vehicles have gone through Lake Minnetonka ice this winter.
The second and third deaths of the season attributed to thin ice conditions on Lake Minnetonka has got people talking. Below are a selection of notable comments left on Lake Minnetonka Patch's Facebook page and Tweets from throughout the country about the recent accidents. ryan dietrich @rydadi: @DeRushaJ oh no. Same last name but no relation at all. Worked together at MG Granite City when I was finishing school. Sad thing. Jim Manning: "I was fishing on Grays bay when this happened. Was not at all worried to drive my truck on the ice, everywhere I drilled a hole was 16+ inches of ice. I just can't understand why anyone would drive trough a channel, especially when there were "thin ice" signs all around the channel. Susie Jones @…
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Maple Grove hockey team stayed in the news this week. Other looks around the metro include a pot bust in Otsego, a Vikings surprise, and Richfield mourns a baby lost too soon.
Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Services Held for Tabitha Rose Markle Tabitha, 9 months, passed away Monday morning from injuries she sustained in an accident on Lake Minnetonka. Her mother, Amanda, works for Richfield Public Schools. Maple Grove Senior High Shares Action Plan Following Boys Hockey Team Incident School officials: “Following the recent situation involving some members of the hockey team, we know there is additional work to do.” Hundreds of Teachers Rally Against Standards Based Grading …
Friday, January 25, 2013
After seven vehicles plowed through the ice on Lake Minnetonka, Sheriff Stanek reminds citizens to be safe.
Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office press release. With warmer temperatures expected this weekend, more people are expected to be using the county’s lakes for recreation. The Sheriff’s Office urges all residents to use caution when using area lakes and other bodies of water. Remember that no ice should ever be considered completely safe. Freezing and thawing have created variable ice conditions. Last weekend, there were seven vehicles broke through ice on Lake Minnetonka. Hennepin County residents are urged to review these safety guidelines: · Anyone using the ice –including people on foot, snowmobiles and ATVs --should use safety precautions such as wearing life jackets. Sheriff’s deputies wear life …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Tabitha passed away Monday morning. The following is her obituary.
Editor's Note: Information courtesy Morris-Nilsen Funeral Home Tabitha Rose Markle, age nine months, is preceded in death by her grandfather, Lawrence Markle. She is survived by parents, Jonathan and Amanda; sister, Isabelle; grandparents, Marilyn Markle, Marvin and Mary Seefeld; aunts and uncles, Sandy and Dave Pevonka, Laura and Jason West, Amy and Aaron Seefeld and Emily Seefeld; cousins, Kenneth and Sara Pevonka, Natalie, Jacqueline and Gabriella Seefeld. Services Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church 6730 Nicollet Ave. S., Richfield. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 24, from 4-7 p.m. at Morris Nilsen Chapel, 6527 Portland Ave. S., …
After a rash of vehicles going through the ice in recent days, including one that resulted in the death of an infant, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek urges residents to review ice safety guidelines.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, January 24
by Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek There have been seven vehicles that have broken through the ice on Lake Minnetonka in four days, Jan. 18-21. Tragically, one incident resulted in the death of an infant, an 8-month-old girl from Minnetrista. Related Posts: The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office reminds residents that no ice should ever be considered safe. Residents are urged to review these safety guidelines: Last winter Sheriff Stanek took the unusual step of ordering all vehicles off Hennepin County ice after a rash of accidents was blamed on thin ice conditions. Stanek said Saturday that he was not yet prepared to take a similar step this winter.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Alcohol was a factor in at least two of the seven accidents; Sheriff Rich Stanek urges common sense and good judgement.
The death of an eight-month-old baby is prompting area safety officials to urge the public to use good judgement and take appropriate safety precautions when driving on Lake Minnetonka and other frozen bodies of water in Hennepin County. Tabitha Markle died early Monday morning after her family's vehicle broke through the ice Friday night near the Halstead Bay Bridge adjacent to County Road 44 in Minnetrista. Tabitha's mother, a teacher with Richfield Public Schools, her father and sister were also in the SUV. The accident occurred less than 24 hours after the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office conducted a nighttime rescue drill that simulated a similar scenario. In all, seven vehicles have broken through the ice since last Friday. Alcohol …
Jumping beans
9:45 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
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