Body found of man swept up by flood

7/17/2006

UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio - An Ohio man believed to have drowned over the weekend after his pickup was swept by flood waters off a road and into a water-filled field was found dead Saturday, authorities said.

Randy Garver, 46, of Morral, Ohio, was found about 5 p.m. in a three-foot deep patch of water about 200 feet north of State Rt. 53, near the corner of Mifflin Township Road 103, deputies from the Wyandot County sheriff's office said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ohio Department of Transportation officials found Mr. Garver's pick-up truck 75 feet north of the intersection early Saturday morning. After a sweep of the area, the body was located about 5 p.m.

Sheriff's officials said they believed Mr. Garver was attempting to go through high water on the state route that rose on Thursday evening or Friday morning, when the Tymochtee Creek area was in an extreme flood stage, and his vehicle was swept off the roadway.