Authorities are searching for a man who went missing after a truck was swept off a flooded roadway Monday afternoon in Martin County. Indiana Conservation Officers say the incident happened around 2:37 p.m. on Spout Springs Road just south of Shoals, an area near the White River that is known to flood. According to officials, the truck was carried off the roadway by high water. The passenger in the vehicle was able to escape through a window and hold onto a nearby tree vine while calling 911 for help. Crews from the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department and the Martin County Sheriff’s Department launched a boat and successfully rescued the passenger. Search crews are now working to locate the driver, identified as 82-year-old James Petty of Fortville, along with the vehicle. Authorities say swift water conditions have made search efforts difficult. Indiana Conservation Officers are using surface searches and sonar equipment as the search continues. Agencies assisting include the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Martin County EMS, and the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department.
