Accident on ice at Alexander Reservoir results in drowning death
The ice just off the shore at Alexander Reservoir late on Monday afternoon.
A flurry of activity on the water over the weekend preceded the official word of a tragedy at Alexander Reservoir, where a brother and sister pair fell through the ice that had partially covered the surface of the water. The 34 year old male was rescued from the water and transported for medical treatment. His sister, Pamela Yazzie of Chinle, Arizona, was recovered later, though she did not survive. The pair were approximately 200 feet out onto the ice at the time they fell through, and the ice at that location was estimated to be around four inches thick.
The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement on the incident:
“On Sunday March 8, 2026 , at about 2:52 pm, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communication Center received a report that two individuals had fallen through the ice on Alexander Reservoir, approximately 2 miles east of Soda Springs.
Upon arrival Caribou County Sheriff’s Deputies observed that the individuals had fallen though the ice approx. 200 feet from the northern shoreline. Responding emergency personnel crossed the ice at great risk and pulled one of the victims out of the water and onto the ice and got him back to the shore across the unstable ice. The first victim was attended to by EMT’s and transported to Caribou Medical Center by Caribou County EMS for further treatment. The second victim had gone underwater as they were trying to remove the first victim from the water. Members of the Sheriff’s Office dive team responded and a dive certified deputy entered the ice opening and located the second victim. The second victim was then removed from the water and moved to the shoreline where she was immediately treated by EMT’s and transported to Caribou Medical Center by Caribou County EMS. The first victim rescued from the water was a 34 year of age male from Arizona. The Second individual rescued from the water was a 27 year of age female from Arizona. The two subjects rescued were a brother and sister. The 27 YOA female was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The 34 YOA male was treated and is expected to recover.
The two victims had crossed the ice in an attempt do some fishing. The ice where the incident occurred was approximately 4 inches thick.
Agencies responding to the incident included, but are not limited to, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office, the Caribou County Sheriff Search and Rescue team, the Caribou County Emergency Medical Service team, the Bear Lake County Sheriff Office/Dive Team and the Air Rescue Helicopter from Burley, Idaho. We are also grateful for the professional emergency services provided by the Caribou Medical Center.
The Caribou Sheriff's Office offers our condolences to the friends and family of the victims of this terrible accident.”
A “Polar Plunge” event had been planned at the same location for March 14th. In the aftermath of the tragedy, GOAL director Jim McCulloch announced that “GOAL is saddened by the tragedy that occurred yesterday (March 8) at Alexander Reservoir, and join our community in mourning the loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family, and all those who responded. In light of this heartbreaking incident, and to honor all involved, we have decided to cancel our polar plunge event planned for Saturday, March 14.”
There is no official regulation covering access to the ice or water based on weather conditions, but visitors to the reservoir and other local waterways are encouraged to exercise extreme caution as the temperatures shift.
Special recognition was given to Deputy Kolby Call and dispatcher Sheri Allen Rider by the Sheriff’s Office for their actions in response to the event.
