"Andy and Derek were very close:" Father & son killed when their Jeep went through ice on Lake Winnebago



SUSSEX/OSHKOSH (WITI) -- A Sussex father and his young son are dead after their Jeep went through the ice on Lake Winnebago Sunday, January 25th. They have been identified as 40-year-old Andrew Doro and eight-year-old Derek Doro.

It is clear from their photos Andrew Doro and his son Derek loved to fish. That's what they were going to do when their Jeep fell through a crack in the ice Sunday on Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department says an ATV rider called in around 6:52 a.m. Sunday. The caller reported seeing a Jeep go through the ice about two miles east of Oshkosh’s Merritt Street boat landing, but didn’t see anyone exit the vehicle.

“They reported that they didn’t see anybody come out of the vehicle, and tried to make attempts to get up onto the ice,” Winnebago County Sheriff’s Lt. Gordon Ledioyt said.

Rescue and dive teams were called to an area about two-and-a-half miles from shore. Those teams searched and were able to pull two occupants from the vehicle.

“Oshkosh Fire Department went out, was able to locate where the vehicle had gone through the ice. Some divers went into the water and pulled two people out of the water,” Lt. Ledioyt said.

"Andy and Derek were very close. Obviously they were going ice fishing. Fishing was definitely a passion of Andy's and he was bringing it on to his son as well. They spent a lot of time on Lake Winnebago in the summer and winter," Renee Warzon, a friend of the family said.

Warzon is a childhood friend of Derek's mother, Kelly. Lake Winnebago was a regular retreat for both families over the years. Renee Warzon has a cabin there.

Warzon has established a GoFundMe.com account to benefit the family in honor of Andrew and Derek Doro, and so far, more than $8,000 has been raised.

"I just sent it to everybody I knew in Sussex and everyone I knew who knew Kelly or Andy and the result was overwhelming. I was literally blown away. Again, every time I think about it it almost brings me to tears because I want to help her out so much," Warzon said.

At Maple Avenue Elementary School in Sussex, Derek Doro's second-grade classmates are trying to grapple with the sudden loss. The school called each parent Monday to talk about what happened over the weekend. An email went out at the school that says Derek Doro was a bright student and friend to all.

"It's really scary. I can't even imagine losing your spouse and your children all at the same time. I can't even think about it," Warzon said.

The incident happened early Sunday morning. Investigators say the Jeep fell through near a 10-inch-wide crack in the ice that stretched for three miles. That crack runs along a tree line, which is meant to guide travelers.

“It’s happened a few times. It’s just unfortunate that someone, we had a fatality. It’s very unfortunate. If he was driving across the crack instead of parallel to it, nothing would have happened. Driving parallel with a crack, chunks broke off, and the truck went in. Where he went in, it was 14 inches of ice, because I measured it,” Don Herman with the Otter Street Fishing Club said.

Herman says recent warm temperatures and wind can drastically change conditions on a lake.

“It will open cracks that weren’t there before, that were froze shut. It will open them, and it will shut some that were open,” David Buskirk of Oshkosh said.

Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say this year is the first they’ve been called out to Lake Winnebago for an ice rescue.

CLICK HERE to access the GoFundMe.com page established in honor of Andrew and Derek Doro.

Related stories: