First responders search Driftwood River for missing man

Staff Reports

Searchers gathered in Heflin Park looking for a man who disappeared in the Driftwood River after his canoe capsized in the river near a mobile home park.

Four search boats were sent out from Heflin Park north of Columbus after the 27-year-old man was reported to be in the water at about 4:26 p.m. Saturday.

The man’s canoe was found submerged in the river under a logjam, according to the searchers. The man briefly resurfaced after falling from the canoe and appeared above the water for a moment before he disappeared, said DNR officer Jet Quillen.

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The missing man was believed to have been canoeing with a group of friends, Quillen said.

Investigators believe they rented their canoes from Blues Canoe Livery, which is near Heflin Park.

Boats from the DNR, Franklin Fire Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s airboat all were searching on the river Saturday afternoon. Drones also were deployed to search for the man by the Bargersville Fire Department and the Indianapolis Police Department.

The water depth of the Driftwood is unknown, but the man’s companions said they could not reach the bottom of the river at the point he disappeared, Quillin said.

The man was not believed to be wearing a life jacket, Quillin said.

The DNR officers requested a state police helicopter for the search.

This search followed an earlier water rescue on Saturday on the Driftwood involving several kayakers whose boats overturned, first responders said. Those individuals made it to shore and were rescued by Johnson County officials.

First responders planned to continued their search until nightfall calling off the search at 8:15 p.m. The search is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. today.

Assisting DNR and the sheriff’s department at the scene were German Township Fire, Franklin Fire, Nineveh Fire, Wayne Township Fire and Columbus first responders.