SHOALS — Authorities have recovered the body of a missing 82-year-old man whose vehicle was swept into the East Fork White River during a week of historic and deadly flooding in southern Indiana.
James Petty, of Fortville, was found Monday afternoon around 1:45 p.m. inside his truck, which was resting on the river bottom in approximately 30 feet of water.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers utilized advanced sonar technology to pinpoint the vehicle’s location near Spout Springs Road, just south of Shoals.
The tragedy began at approximately 2:37 p.m. last Monday when Petty’s truck was carried off the roadway by swift-moving floodwaters. While Petty remained with the vehicle as it was pulled downstream, a passenger in the truck managed a remarkable escape that officials are now highlighting as a life-saving example.
According to Indiana Conservation Officer Joe Haygood, the passenger unbuckled his seatbelt, rolled down the window, and jumped from the truck as it moved into the current. The passenger was able to grab onto a nearby tree vine and call 911 while suspended over the water.
Members of the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department and the Martin County Sheriff’s Department launched a rescue boat and successfully pulled the passenger to safety. “The passenger did what we would encourage anybody to do,” Haygood said. “He took an opportunity and got out of the vehicle.”
While sonar equipment had identified a possible location for the truck earlier in the week, recovery efforts were stalled for days by dangerous river conditions. Martin County has seen more than two dozen roads submerged as the East Fork White River crested at nearly 28 feet—eight feet above flood stage.
Officials emphasized that the depth of the water was not the primary concern for recovery teams. Instead, they faced a high-velocity current and heavy underwater debris, including uprooted logs and trees, which made it too dangerous for divers and equipment to reach the site until Monday.
The recovery of Mr. Petty is part of a larger, tragic narrative of flooding that has claimed several lives across the region this month.
- Lawrence County: Last Tuesday, conservation officers recovered the bodies of two motorists whose pickup truck was swept into floodwaters near Lawrenceport Road.
- Jackson County: At least one other death has been attributed to the recent storms.
At the height of the flooding, the East Fork White River near Shoals reached its highest level since the spring of 2025. National Weather Service data shows the river surged from five feet to 27 feet in just one week.
As of Monday afternoon, many roads in Martin and Lawrence counties remain closed or restricted. Indiana DNR officials continue to urge motorists to obey high-water signs, noting that as little as 12 inches of water can sweep away most vehicles.
The Indiana DNR is expected to release further details on the investigation later today.
