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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A teenager walked six miles across the ice on Utah Lake on Friday afternoon following an argument with his parents, according to police.
At about 4:20 p.m. Friday, the 13-year-old boy's parents called police to report that their son had set off from the Saratoga Springs marina area, Utah County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Spencer Cannon said. He did not identify the teenager.
The boy was off the ice by about 5:30 p.m. and ended up on the eastern shore of the lake near Lindon marina, Cannon said.
He did not break through the ice until his last two steps before he came ashore, only getting his feet and ankles wet, Cannon said.
The situation could have been much more dire, though. Much of Utah Lake is only one or two feet deep, but other areas are as much as 12 feet deep, Cannon said.
If the boy had broken through the ice at one of those deeper areas, there could have been a “very real risk” of injury or death, Cannon said.
“He’s very fortunate that in all the way across he didn’t reach an area that was much thinner,” Cannon said. “We haven’t had a long, hard, deep freeze that gives you six inches or more of ice.”
The boy’s parents called police to report that their son had walked out on the lake. By the time officers were able to locate the boy, he was already at least halfway across, Cannon said.
When a 13 year old gets in an argument with his parents what will he do? A-Apologize, B-Go to his room and do homework, C-Walk from Saratoga Springs to Lindon Marina across barely frozen Utah Lake, or D-Go to the kitchen and do the dishes. If you guessed C you win!
— Spencer Cannon (@SGTCannonPIO) December 30, 2017
As officials waited for search and rescue crews to respond to the scene, all police could do was watch as the teenager continued walking, Cannon said.
During the last 20 yards or so of the boy’s walk, police could hear the ice cracking underneath him. He later told police he had heard ice cracking the entire time as he walked across the lake, according to Cannon.
Though the boy’s excursion turned out well, Cannon said there are better ways to blow off steam after an argument.
“We told him he needs to think of a better way to take out his frustration after having an argument with his parents, and that the risk he created for himself was pretty serious,” Cannon said. “I wouldn’t say walking six miles across ice is a normal teenage response, but a response that isn’t given much thought is not an uncommon way for teenagers to react to a situation that they’re not happy with.”
