A 52-year-old man has been charged after a truck broke through the ice at Chain-O-Lakes, prompting a dangerous water rescue response.

Brian Suddarth, 52, was arrested on a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness following the incident in the 26000 block of Southport Drive. The case will be forwarded to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office for formal charges.

Police were called to the scene around 2:45 a.m. after a vehicle drove onto the frozen surface of the lake, broke through the ice and began to sink. Officers were initially told that two people had been seen walking away from the vehicle, but it was unclear whether anyone else remained inside.

To ensure no one was trapped, two officers donned dive gear and entered the icy water. The officers located the submerged vehicle at the bottom of the lake and confirmed it was unoccupied.