CONCORD, NH — Two people are dead after three snowmobiles tried to go across Lake Winnipesaukee on Saturday.
Gov. Chris Sununu said the incidents involved snowmobiles crossing ice and open water, which is illegal in the state of New Hampshire.
Steven Weiss, 66, and David Crosier, 68, both from Westborough, Massachusetts, and their friend Mark O’Connell, 62 from Moultonborough, New Hampshire were riding together when two snowmobiles broke through the ice between Long Island and Sandy Island.
O’Connell hung onto ice but by the time Tuftonboro airboat got to his location, he had died. Crosier was recovered later in 21 feet of water.
Weiss was able to continue to Long Island and made it to shore safely.
"We're really here to remind everyone how unpredictable our lakes can be, especially given some of the factors that we have before us this weekend," Sununu said. "We have heavy and strong winds, we have a heavy snow load, we are only a few days after a significant thaw here in the the state."