A ruling on a cause of death for an Edinburgh man who died after fleeing from Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies by swimming across the Driftwood River is still pending after an autopsy.
Bartholomew County Coroner Larry Fisher said he is waiting on toxicology results before issuing a statement on the cause of death for Robert A. Quick, 44, who was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional Hospital at about 9:22 p.m. Monday.
Quick had some underlying medical conditions that could have presented a problem depending on what investigators find in the toxicology results, Fisher said.
Indiana State Police are investigating the death of Quick, who was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped at about 8:30 p.m. Monday in the 5100 block of North County Road 250W, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, Indiana State Police spokesman.
Deputies were sent to that location about a suspicious vehicle and began following a white 1996 Dodge van that Quick was in, Wheeles said.
While being followed by two deputies, the van suddenly came to a stop, Wheeles said.
Quick, who was in the back seat of the van, left the vehicle and fled on foot from the deputies, Wheeles said.
Quick then entered the Driftwood River and swam across to the opposite side while being pursued by one of the deputies. Upon reaching the opposite side of the river, Quick began having medical difficulties and collapsed, Wheeles said.
The deputy soon made it across the river and located Quick, who was unresponsive, Wheeles said. The deputy immediately called for medical personnel and began initiating medical care to Quick.
Quick was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital where attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, Wheeles said.
Bartholomew County Coroner Larry Fisher said the deputy had performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Quick at the scene.
Fisher said he pronounced Quick dead at the hospital at about 9:22 p.m. Monday.
It was later determined that Quick was wanted on multiple warrants out of Johnson and Bartholomew counties.
Bartholomew County records show Quick was being sought for failure to appear on a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor charge of possession of paraphernalia.
Court records indicate Quick failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in Bartholomew Superior Court 2 on June 15 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Quickâs address in Edinburgh is listed as 211 Franklin St. in court records.
