Sixth snowmobile fatality of the season: Man dies after encountering open water on Geneva Lake

LAKE GENEVA -- An investigation is underway after a deadly snowmobile accident on Geneva Lake in Walworth County.

Emergency responders were called out to the lake around 9:00 p.m. Sunday, February 14th.

The Walworth County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man who died in this incident as 53-year-old Mark Reninger of Wheeling, Illinois. He died after his snowmobile hit open water on Geneva Lake.

DNR officials say Reninger and another man from Illinois were traveling west on separate snowmobiles, in the direction of Fontana, when they encountered open water just north of Williams Bay and south of the Lake Geneva Yacht Club.

Reninger was pronounced dead at a hospital. The other man was treated of hypothermia.

Agencies that assisted at the scene and with recovery of the body included: volunteer fire departments of Town of Linn, Williams Bay and Delavan which provided a hovercraft. An airboat was sent from the department in Fox Lake, Illinois. The Walworth County Sheriff's Department also assisted.

DNR officials say this is the sixth snowmobile fatality of the season.

"It is recommended to make contact with those in the community to check current ice conditions before venturing out on the lake," Juan Gomez, DNR conservation warden said.

You may recall -- on Saturday, February 6th, 15 vehicles went through the ice on Geneva Lake during Lake Geneva's "Winterfest" event. No one was hurt -- and no citations were issued.