Man cited after first responders rescue pair in floodwaters

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If you plan to drive through floodwaters in Jackson County, it’s likely to cost you some money.

A 22-year-old Madison man found that to be the case Tuesday afternoon when he was fined $500 after he drove through floodwaters in the Vallonia bottoms.

Police responded to the 1000 block of County Road 400N at 4:26 p.m. Tuesday after Conner Livingston drove his 2009 Mercury Milan through floodwaters in the area.

Sheriff Mike Carothers said Livingston’s vehicle had 3 feet of water in it, but he and a passenger were able to escape the car and make it to dry land before calling police.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department attempted to rescue the pair with its airboat, but a malfunction led police to use another option as firefighters with Driftwood Township Volunteer Fire Department were called to rescue the pair.

There were no injuries in the incident, but the vehicle remained where it came to rest.

“We won’t go out to get it until the water comes down,” Carothers said.

The East Fork White River at Rockford stood at 12.78 feet at the time of the incident, just above the 12-foot flood stage. The river crested at 13.26 feet at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis issued a flood warning for the Muscatatuck River at Wheeler Hollow in southern Jackson County earlier this week.

The river was at 19.8 feet Tuesday evening and is expected to tick up a little further before cresting at 19.9 feet Friday. Flood stage for that river, which flows west of Crothersville to separate Jackson, Scott and Washington counties, is 18 feet.

Tuesday’s incident is a reminder for motorists who encounter floodwaters to turn around, Carothers said.

“Don’t drive out in it,” he said. “It’s pretty simple and sweet.”

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