Lakemoor man dies after snowmobile plunges into Chain O' Lakes

A Lakemoor man is dead after his snowmobile plunged into Nippersink Lake, fire officials said Monday.

Mark Turkula, 38, was riding with three other snowmobilers west across Nippersink Lake early Saturday morning when he went through the ice and into the lake, said Fox Lake Assistant Fire Chief Ed Lescher.

"He was riding across Kamikaze Point by El Puerto's when his sled hit open water and went in," Lescher said. "The other three didn't know he hit water and kept going."

Kamikaze Point is so named because three lakes meet in one point, he said.

Lescher said the three friends realized Turkula was missing when they arrived at the Route 12 bridge, located about three minutes west of the point.

He said the three turned back and noticed Turkula floating in the water. They dialed 911 from the site.

Lescher said an airboat was dispatched and Turkula was recovered a short while later.

He was taken to Centegra's Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry where he was pronounced dead, McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz said.

An autopsy performed Monday revealed the cause of death was probable drowning, Lantz said. Toxicology reports are pending.

She said the Illinois Conservation Police are investigating.

"Alcohol may have played a role in the death," she added. "But, we won't know for sure until toxicology reports come back in a couple of weeks."

The funeral for Turkula is today at 10 a.m. at the Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church at 426 N. West Ave. in Elmhurst.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established for the Turkula children in care of the Pedersen Ryberg Mortuary, at 435 N. York Road, Elmhurst IL 60126.

For more information about arrangements, call the mortuary at (630) 834-1133.