2 Wyoming men missing after attempting rescue on thin ice

MOORCROFT, Wyo. (AP) — Two men who drove their all-terrain vehicle onto a frozen reservoir in northeastern Wyoming to rescue another man who fell through the ice are missing, authorities said.

The men drove onto Keyhole Reservoir, north of Moorcroft, on Thursday night to try to help the man, who was able to pull himself out and was later rescued by firefighters, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office said.

First responders also found a third man who was on the ATV but discovered open water in the area where the would-be rescuers were last seen and evidence the vehicle had entered the water. Witnesses lost sight of the vehicle before authorities arrived.

Winds that reached speeds of 50 mph, poor visibility and frigid temperatures forced rescuers to call off the search at 11 p.m.

They resumed looking Friday, but the men were not found by midday. Nighttime temperatures will be at or below zero starting Saturday.

The reservoir is about 155 miles (249 kilometers) northeast of Casper and is a popular ice fishing location.