RCMP in Manitoba have issued a warning about dangerous ice conditions, after the second vehicle in less than a week fell through the ice on the Red River.

A 2007 Chevy Avalanche broke through the ice on the Red River near Selkirk, Man., just north of Winnipeg, around 11 a.m. Sunday. The truck's driver, a 40-year-old Winnipeg man, was not hurt, though his vehicle was totally submerged.

In the first case, a 2007 Ford F-150 truck went through the ice around 1 p.m. last Tuesday as its 31-year-old driver was unloading fishing equipment on the west side of Sugar Island, just north of Selkirk.

The driver was not hurt, though his vehicle also sank below the water.

Police caution the public to be very careful when driving on waterways, noting ice conditions can change significantly in a matter of hours.

Insurance will likely cover trucks

Brian Smiley, spokesman for Manitoba Public Insurance, said over-eager ice fishermen are usually behind vehicles that fall through ice.

Most of the incidents are covered by insurance, he said.

"We don't often punish for stupidity, for lack of a better word," he said. 
"The vehicle owner certainly would be questioned, they would be spoken to, perhaps even a bit of a safety lecture, but at the end of the day, their truck would probably be covered."

However, there is a point where a claim might be denied, he said.

"If there's signs posted saying, 'Thin ice, don't go out,' or warning signs, and the vehicle owner continues to just ignore those signs, then there could be a very strong likelihood that that claim could be denied and the owner would be out without his truck."

Ice thin in Winnipeg

In Winnipeg, the police river patrol is advising residents to stay off ice on retention ponds, artificial lakes and especially rivers, where the water is swift moving and cold.

At least eight centimetres of ice thickness is needed to support one person, 13 cm for a single snowmobile, 17 cm for a group of people and 28 cm for a small truck, according to police.

Machinery and equipment are not allowed on waterways within city limits unless approved by police, who inspect the area and issue permits.

For information on approved sites and ice conditions in the city, Winnipeggers can call the Water Safe line at 986-8504.

For Manitobans looking to lace up ice skates, all of the rinks and trails at The Forks in Winnipeg are open and in good condition, according to The Forks website, while the toboggan chute and snowboard park are still under construction.

Most city-run skating ponds and rinks are also open.

The skating and skiing trails on the Red and Assiniboine rivers are expected to open in mid-January.