Wabash River body identified

drowning

The man who died in the Wabash River in Sullivan County has been identified as 49-year-old David Overbay of Lawrenceville, Illinois.

        Sullivan County, Indiana Sheriff Clark Cottom says the body was found Wednesday and an autopsy was conducted Thursday.  The cause of death was determined to be drowning.

        Cottom says on Tuesday, Overbay’s truck was disabled when he ran off into a ditch along Levee Road west of Graysville, Indiana.  He had no cell phone and left on foot before authorities arrived.  He was last seen heading west toward the river a mile Northeast of Hutsonville, Illinois. Deputies search the area for four hours Tuesday but could not find him. For undetermined reasons, Cottom says Overbay tried to swim across the river.  Family members described him as a decent swimmer who knew the river.

        Foul play is no suspected but the investigation does continue as final testing and toxicology reports are pending.