COLUMBUS – The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office has determined that Darrell Voelz, 62, of Columbus, who was found in the Driftwood River last month following severe flooding, died of accidental drowning.
Voelz’s body was discovered on April 10th by the Bartholomew County Water Rescue Team near the Lowell Fishing Site. Bartholomew County Coroner Tom Barrett confirmed on Tuesday that a forensic autopsy and death investigation led to the ruling of accidental drowning.
Authorities had been searching for Voelz after he stayed in a cabin along the Driftwood River in the 5000 block of North County Road 250 West during the flooding that occurred the weekend of April 6th. The area where his cabin was located experienced significant flooding, with water levels reaching an estimated 16.5 feet.
Before the discovery, rescue teams had conducted welfare checks on Voelz after friends reported he remained at the cabin as floodwaters rose. The cabin was later found damaged by fire during the flood event and was submerged when initial searches were conducted.
Voelz’s death is believed to be the only fatality in Bartholomew County resulting from the severe flooding that impacted the Driftwood River and other waterways last month.
