One man missing in flood waters, another man rescued after truck is swept off roadway in Martin County

Indiana Conservation Officers are searching for a man after his truck was swept off Spout Springs Road just south of Shoals.

This location is near the White River and is prone to flooding.   

Yesterday at 2:37 p.m., Martin County dispatch received a 911 call for help from the vehicle’s passenger, who was able to climb out of a window and hold on to a nearby vine. Members of the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department and the Martin County Sheriff’s Department launched a boat and rescued the passenger.

Surface searches and sonar are being used to locate the driver, James Petty, 82, of Fortville and the vehicle. Search efforts for Petty have been hindered by the swift-moving water conditions. According to authorities, they are pretty sure they know where the vehicle is but with the rising river and the swift current, a diver has not been able to get to in the water to confirm.

According to Indiana Conservation Officer Joe Haywood, high water signs were up telling motorists to avoid the area.

This highlights some frustration on the part of conservation officers. “It gets frustrating on our end that we have to keep going out and rescuing people, and we put our lives at risk to go do that as well,” he said.

This is the second rescue conservation officers have had to conduct in Daviess County after recent rains.

“Just don’t drive into flooded areas,” Haywood said in an interview today.

He mentioned that the old adage “turn around, don’t drown” is an important reminder. “It doesn’t take a lot of water for a vehicle to be swept off a roadway,” Haywood explained. “Those signs are up for a reason.”

He reminded residents they can be cited for ignoring the signs and driving through high water over roadways.

Responding agencies included the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Martin County Emergency Medical Services, Shoals Volunteer Fire Department and Indiana Conservation Officers.