The DNR reports multiple agencies responded to a call of an over-turned canoe in the Wabash River on Sunday night. A 911 call was received, just after 8:20 p.m., from a person on the John T. Myers pedestrian bridge, which spans the Wabash River between West Lafayette and Lafayette, who witnessed a canoe occupied by two people overturn in the flooded river.

It was later learned the occupants of the canoe were Brandon Skiles, 18, Rossville and Benjamin Cox, 23, West Lafayette.

It was reported that two canoes were observed floating downstream. The second canoe, occupied by three people attempted to help Skiles and Cox in the water until both quickly passed out of view of the caller.

An officer responding to the call observed an empty canoe pass under the US 231 Bridge downstream. There was nobody with the boat. Indiana Conservation Officers and members of the Tippecanoe County Dive Team launched boats from Fort Ouiatenon, further downstream, and began to search for the occupants.

Skiles and Cox were located by members of the Lafayette Fire Department under a bridge and were assisted out of the water. The second canoe with the three occupants was able to paddle to Shamrock Park in Lafayette. The three were identified as Daniel Sebald, 23, Lafayette, James Ausban, 19, West Lafayette and Jedidah Ausban, 13, West Lafayette.

After interviewing the five people involved, conservation officers determined that the men began their trip on the Tippecanoe River at Springboro. The first canoe struck an underwater obstruction near one of the bridges and overturned. The second canoe attempted to assist the two in the water but the fast current made it impossible to navigate the canoe with the two holding on. The two in the water were then able to swim toward shore. All five were wearing life jackets.

Everyone involved was evaluated by Tippecanoe County EMS and refused medical treatment.

Responding agencies were: Indiana Conservation Officers, Tippecanoe County Sheriff, Tippecanoe County Dive Team, West Lafayette Fire and PD, Lafayette Fire and PD, Tippecanoe County EMA, Tippecanoe County EMS.

Additionally, the DNR reports that two separate successful rescues were made Friday on Sugar Creek near Crawfordsville where drivers attempted to cross through flooded roadways, and their vehicles were swept away.

However, a flooded creek in Hamilton County north of Indianapolis claimed the lives of two men over the weekend in separate incidents. Both apparently attempted to drive through flooded roadways. The first victim's car was washed downstream, flipped over and submerged. The second man's body was found Sunday morning. He had called 911 at about 1 a.m., Saturday to say his car was sinking in the creek.

Everyone urged to stay out of floodwaters

Indiana Conservation Officers are urging everyone to stay out of the floodwaters. Regardless of your swimming or boating ability, the unpredictable fast current and underwater obstructions are hazardous.

Additionally, the cold temperatures allow for the rapid onset of hypothermia which quickly reduces a person’s ability to react to the hazardous conditions.

Driving through floodwaters is equally as dangerous. The depth of the water across a roadway is unknown, and roadway washout may be hidden by the water.