'It's just a sad deal'

When it came to fishing, it was hard to separate 21-year-old Tyler Magnan and 16-year-old Tyler Lightner.

As soon as they were old enough to hold fishing poles, they were inseparable on open or frozen water - together so often they became known as "Big Tyler" and "Little Tyler," even though as they grew older, "Little" Tyler Lightner outgrew his good friend.

"Big Tyler" and "Little Tyler" fishing together - that's the way it always would be, said Tyler Lightner's father, Mark.

"Two peas in a pod," he said.

That's what makes the death of Tyler Magnan, whose four-wheeler plunged through the ice Sunday, all the more tragic, Mark Lightner said. The Tylers weren't inexperienced ice fisherman or ATV riders.

"These kids have never been careless," Mark Lightner said. "It's just a sad deal. They hit a spot where the ice was thin. It could have happened to anybody."

Living in Unorganized Territory north of Brainerd, Tyler Magnan's and Tyler Lightner's home fishing lakes were Round Lake and North Long Lake. They knew the lakes well, spending hours on them fishing together. Their families had ice fishing houses on Round Lake this year. Both Tylers knew there were 8 inches of ice between the shore and their houses. They also knew they needed at least 5 inches to drive their ATVs on the lake.

Magnan, Lightner and Magnan's cousin, Brandon, had been fishing on Round Lake since Saturday. They had spent the night in an ice fishing house and on Sunday afternoon they decided to scout for a new fishing location. They were slowly driving their four-wheelers on the northwest part of Round Lake when Magnan and Lightner hit ice that was about a quarter-inch thick. Both ATVs broke though the thin ice and into the chilly water.

Mark Lightner said his son remembers breaking through the ice and going under water. He told his father that when he got to the surface, he broke ice for about 15 to 20 feet until he reached hard ice pack, then pulled himself out.

Tyler Lightner and Brandon, who was able to stop his four-wheeler before the thin ice, then took off their outer clothing to make a rope to throw to Tyler Magnan, but by that time, he was unresponsive in the water. Less than an hour after emergency personnel arrived, Magnan's body was found near his ATV in 19 feet of water.

"These kids did the best they could to try and save him, but they couldn't do it. It wasn't in the cards. I guess God has a different plan for them," Mark Lightner said.

The accident has been difficult on Tyler Lightner because he and Magnan were so close, Mark Lightner said. Tyler declined to be interviewed Monday afternoon, but gave notes on the accident to his dad.

Mark Lightner also said there is no blame between the families involved in the tragic accident because, when all is said and done, that's what it was - an accident. Instead, the families and all their friends have focused on supporting one another.

"I trusted Tyler (Magnan) with my son's life. I always have. I never had a second thought, a second guess, with anything," Mark Lightner said. "(The Magnan family members) are great people going through a terrible time right now. We all are."

MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.