OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – When a vehicle crashes into the ice of Lake Winnebago, a costly recovery can be made possible with just a dive and homemade gear.
RELATED: Two trucks fell through ice on Lake Winnebago near Menasha
Don Herman, owner of SUNK Dive and Ice Service, has been salvaging vehicles, ATVs and even airplanes from the lake for more than four decades. In 1980, Neighbor Aid began to grow into a busy business in Oshkosh.
“I started doing this in 1980, and there were a few cars going in and a couple of our friends going out,” Don said. “It’s been growing ever since.”
A typical recovery team includes three to eight people. They first assess ice thickness and then plan a safe approach to the underwater vehicle. They used homemade equipment to pull the vehicle from the icy water.
“We’d take a four-wheeler with a portable winch and pull it out,” Tang said.
Recovery costs vary widely, depending on factors such as water depth and whether divers are required. Don estimates that it costs $3,000 to $12,000 to retrieve a vehicle.
Over the years, Don’s team has salvaged everything from semi-trailers and dump trucks to beer trucks, helicopters and airplanes. Despite the varied recovery scenarios, Don has a lasting message for the public: No ice is completely safe.
‘No ice is 100% safe’: Wisconsin DNR urges caution amid recent heatwaves
“At the end of the day I always say, no ice is 100 percent safe. I should probably patent it because I can make money off of it,” Herman said.
So far this year, 17 vehicles have been recovered from Lake Winnebago. Last year, nearly 70 cars drove across the ice.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 – Green Bay, Appleton.
