COTTONWOOD — Another incident of a person going into Lake Cottonwood was reported Monday morning, when a vehicle broke through the ice. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said a Cottonwood man, 68, and a small dog were rescued from the water and treated by emergency responders.

The accident was reported around 9:18 a.m. The man and dog were able to get out of the vehicle after it went through the ice, and they were helped out of the water by a Cottonwood community member and the Cottonwood Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The man was treated by emergency responders, and was later transported to Avera Marshall Medical Center. The dog was taken to Lakeside Companion Animal Clinic in Cottonwood for care.

Monday’s incident was the second time a vehicle with occupants went into Cottonwood Lake this winter. An ATV carrying three people went into the lake in the early hours of Jan. 12. All three people were able to exit the vehicle and walk to shore. Cottonwood residents opened a nearby church building in order to get the three out of the cold, and two of the ATV occupants were later taken to Avera Marshall Medical Center.

The driver of the ATV was later charged with driving while impaired and criminal vehicular operation. A complaint alleged that Robert Neil Danielson, 58, was driving the ATV while under the influence of alcohol.

On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office again warned area residents to use caution on frozen lakes and rivers. Ice is never 100% safe, and in spite of the extreme cold temperatures recently, ice thickness can still vary across a body of water, the Sheriff’s Office said.