December 24, 2020
From Wayland State Police:
On December 23, 2020, at approximately 11:28 a.m., Steuben County dispatched the State Police to a report of two ice fisherman that had fallen through the ice on Loon Lake, town of Wayland. Trooper Matthew McKinney, (SP Wayland) was in the area of the lake when the call was dispatched. Trooper McKinney observed a male subject, Spencer R. Eaton, age 20, at an ice shanty on the lake. Trooper McKinney makes contact with Eaton to determine if he is out fishing by himself. It is then discovered that Eaton’s stepfather, Marc D. Rounsville, age 49, had fallen through the ice. Eaton was attempting to pull his stepfather from the water, but was unable to.
Trooper McKinney then returned to his troop car and drove to the Laf A Lot Restaurant boat launch to establish a rescue route. Trooper McKinney obtained a life vest from the Laf A Lot Restaurant and the rope from his patrol vehicle. Trooper Rocky Cerretto, Trooper Jason Allison and Investigator Jeremy Hagadone then arrived on scene. Under direction of Investigator Hagadone a ladder was obtained from the Laf A Lot Restaurant and three lengths of rope were tied together.
Inv. Hagadone then securely fastened one rope end to the waist of Trooper McKinnney. Trooper McKinney carried the ladder to prevent completely falling through the ice as he traveled towards Rounsville. Despite running out of rope length, Trooper McKinney put himself at risk and continued another 100’ – 150’ to reach Rounsville. Trooper McKinney then placed the ladder on the ice next to Rounsville . After considerable efforts, Rounsville was pulled from the water and rolled onto the ladder. The ladder was then used as a make-shift stretcher and it was pulled from the hazardous edge. Fire department personnel were then able to then get Rounsville to land. Rounsville was transported from the scene by ambulance to Noyes Memorial Hospital for exposure treatment.
