Man found dead after Ford truck plunges through ice into frozen river, officials say

CLAYTON, N.Y. (WWNY/Gray News) – The body of a man was discovered after officials pulled a truck from an icy river in New York Sunday.

Emergency crews in Clayton, New York, responded to the St. Lawrence River around 8 a.m. where they discovered a 2019 Ford truck had fallen through the ice.

Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Barnett said the Coast Guard tried to take a look in the vehicle when they found a body later identified as that of 49-year-old Jeremy T. Hubbard.

“Very strange scene,” Barnett said.

The Coast Guard were called to help remove Hubbard’s body from the vehicle, but were unsuccessful due to the icy conditions.

The State Police Underwater Recovery Team was then called in and proved successful in removing the body.

Hubbard’s body was sent to the medical examiner for further evaluation.

After the body was recovered, officials set out to pull the truck from the water, which was accomplished later in the afternoon.

The sheriff’s department is continuing to investigate how the truck ended up in the river. Officials were able to determine the truck fell through the ice shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday.