New York state 'ice car' freed by tow truck crew, leaves shell behind

HAMBURG, N.Y., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The "ice car" frozen in a New York state parking space by waves from Lake Erie is defrosting at an auto shop while part of its ice shell remains as a memorial.

The Mitsubishi Lancer, which was frozen in place when Justin Yelen parked it overnight at a Hamburg restaurant and Lake Erie waves created a shell of ice around it, was broken free Wednesday by a towing company crew and taken to West Herr Collision Center in Hamburg to defrost.

The shop tweeted a picture of the car melting inside the garage after spending three days frozen in the restaurant's parking lot.

Lenny Iwanenko, president of Lake Erie Towing & Recovery, said his crew used calcium flakes to weaken the ice shell so it could be pulled out by a tow truck.

Footage from the scene shows a portion of the ice shell remained in place after the car was removed.

"I've been in business 28 years, never seen anything like this," Iwanenko told the Buffalo News. "This is amazing."