TWO SNOWMOBILERS ARE DECEASED AFTER FALLING INTO OPEN WATER ON RAINBOW FALLS RESERVOIR MONDAY NIGHT.

STATE POLICE IN CANTON ARE NOT RELEASING NAMES AT THIS TIME PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THE STATE'S OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES. FOUR SLEDS WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE RESERVOIR, EACH WITH ITS OWN RIDER ABOUT 8PM. THE FIRST TWO MACHINES IN FRONT SUBMERGED. A THIRD SNOWMOBILER WENT INTO THE WATER AS THE OTHER TWO SLEDDERS TRIED TO RESCUE THE FIRST TWO.

A MASSIVE RESCUE EFFORT ENSUED. PARISHVILLE FIRE AND RESCUE, COLTON FIRE AND RESCUE, DIVERS FROM LISBON, MASSENA RESCUE DIVERS, WADDINGTON RESCUE DIVERS WITH AN ICEBOAT, AND POTSDAM RESCUE WERE ALL ON THE SCENE WITH STATE POLICE, THE ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND STATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OFFICERS.

THE TWO SNOWMOBILERS WHO WENT INTO THE WATER FIRST WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT CANTON-POTSDAM HOSPITAL; THE THIRD WAS RESCUED AND SURVIVED; THE FOURTH WAS UNHURT.

INVESTIGATORS ARE EXPECTED TO RELEASE THE NAMES OF ALL THE SNOWMOBILERS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT LATE THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.