Divers search Lake Champlain for missing snowmobilers

ORWELL - Vermont State Police and New York State Police are searching for two missing snowmobilers in Lake Champlain in the area of Chipman Point in Orwell and Putnam Station, New York.

The missing snowmobilers, identified as Jonathan Ryan, 32 of Shoreham and Brandon Barrett, 23 of Benson, were reported missing on Thursday night.

Police said friends of the pair found their truck and trailer parked at Benson Landing where it was evident the pair rode onto the lake with separate snowmobiles and traveled north during the late afternoon/early evening hours on Thursday.

Information gathered indicated the pair were en route to a restaurant in Ticonderoga, New York. Friends followed the tracks to the area of Chipman Point in the Orwell and Putnam Station, New York, area where it was discontinued due to unsafe ice conditions.

Joint state police searching of the area has led authorities to believe the pair went through the ice on the New York side of the lake as snowmobiles and articles of clothing belonging to the pair were located.

The joint search operation has involved the use of sonar equipment and scuba divers.

As of Sunday night, law enforcement haven’t located the missing men. Both men are experienced snowmobilers with knowledge of the lake. Search efforts will likely be suspended until Tuesday morning due to the winter storm conditions.