INDOT to add better barriers for SR 257 after drowning death

INDOT announced they will add interlocking barriers to State Road 257 to be used to stop motorists when the White River covers the bridge and road during flood events. Cathryn McGill, 31, was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by her husband Adam McGill, 35, when it was swept off the roadway in flood waters at that location on December 29. Adam was rescued by duck hunters in the area at the time but Cathryn’s body wasn’t located until March 14 after waters receded.

Today, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced plans to use interlocking plastic barrier walls when flooding closes State Road 257 at the Daviess/Pike County line.

“INDOT’s previous procedures exceeded state and federal guidelines; however, many individuals were still putting themselves in danger by driving around the barricades and through the rushing flood waters” said Rusty Fowler, Vincennes District Deputy Commissioner. “We are excited about this new system and are confident it will limit the number of people taking unnecessary risks.”

Following McGill’s death in December, state representatives and sheriffs from both Daviess and Pike County asked INDOT to investigate additional measures to prevent vehicles from driving through floodwaters.

The interlocking barrier wall will be installed in advance of the water’s edge on either side of the road closure. The orange reflective barriers will begin at the shoulder of the roadway and stretch across S.R. 257 to the other shoulder of the roadway. On the Daviess County side of the river the barrier wall will be placed in between the guardrails. On the Pike County side of the river standard barricades will be placed from the barrier walls to the right-of-way fences.

INDOT’s existing plan includes signage at the intersection of State Road 257 at the U.S. Route 50 junction in Washington and at the State Road 356 junction in Otwell. Barricades are also placed on S.R. 257 at the county road intersection closest to the flooding to warn motorists. Those barricades are staggered across the lanes to allow local traffic and emergency responders to access the residences in the area. Advanced warning message boards are also placed at the barricades at the county road intersections to warn motorists of the flooding.

When encountering a flooded roadway, INDOT urges drivers to turn around and not drive through standing water. According to the National Weather Service, most flooding deaths occur in automobiles. Six inches of standing water is enough to cause passenger cars to stall and a foot of water will float many vehicles. For the latest road conditions, please call 1-800-261-7623 or visit http://www.trafficwise.in.gov . You may also find road information on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/VincennesDistrict and Twitter account http://www.twitter.com/INDOTSouthwest .