A Metamora man has died after falling through the ice while ice fishing at Lake Evergreen on Sunday afternoon.
According to the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, emergency responders were dispatched to the east boat launch at Comlara Park around 4:32 p.m. after reports of two adult males falling into the water. Fire crews from Hudson, El Paso, Towanda, and Normal successfully pulled both men from the lake.
One of the individuals, 49-year-old Jared M. Ward, was transported to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead at 8:18 p.m., according to McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathleen Yoder. A preliminary autopsy determined that Ward died from drowning due to cold exposure. Toxicology results are pending.
The second individual was taken to Carle BroMenn Medical Center. His condition has not been released.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident and urge caution when venturing onto frozen bodies of water.
