An 82-year-old man who had been missing since last week was found deceased after his truck was swept into a river during flooding in Martin County. Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials located James Petty and his vehicle around 1:45 p.m. yesterday using sonar equipment. Authorities say Petty was found inside the truck, which was submerged about 30 feet underwater. The incident occurred on Spout Springs Road south of Shoals, where rising floodwaters carried the vehicle into the river. A passenger in the truck was able to escape by climbing out of the vehicle and was later rescued after calling 911. Search efforts had been delayed due to dangerous river conditions, including strong currents and debris. Officials say those conditions made it unsafe for divers to immediately recover the vehicle. Flooding across Martin County has also left numerous roads underwater, creating hazardous travel conditions throughout the area.
