Flooded Road Claims Life of Two Year-Old 

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INDIANA STATE POLICE
PERU DISTRICT
1451 N. Eel River Cemetery Road 
Peru, IN 46970

www.in.gov/isp

FOR RELEASE: Upon Receipt

 

CONTACT:
Sgt. Tony Slocum
Public Information Officer

765-473-6666

 

DATE 5/2/2019

 

Flooded Road Claims Life of Two Year-Old 

Wabash County – Today, at approximately 1:40 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police, the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources responded to a 911 call reporting an occupied, submerged, vehicle on Wabash County Road 925 South east of State Road 13. 

The preliminary investigation by Senior Trooper Jeremy Perez revealed that Anthonitte Carter, 22, Indianapolis, IN, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Impala eastbound on County Road 925 South east of State Road 13. Evidence indicates that the Impala passed a high water sign. The sign had been posted, on the south shoulder, to warn drivers of possible flooding due to multiple days of rain in the area. Carter allegedly did not see the sign and drove into floodwater which had completely covered the road. Shortly after the vehicle entered the water, it was carried to the north side of  County Road 925 South by the water’s current. The Impala then became completely submerged.

Carter was able to escape the vehicle. Unfortunately, Carter’s two-year old son, Eric Longer, did not make it out of the submerged Impala. Despite Carter’s attempt to rescue her son, she was not able to free him. Responding conservation officers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and officers from the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department had to enter the flood water to rescue Carter. She was struggling and purportedly did not know how to swim.

Indiana conservation divers located the Impala submerged in approximately eight feet of water. With the assistance of a local towing company, the vehicle was recovered. The toddler was found deceased inside.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Senior Trooper Perez was assisted by conservation officers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Wabash County Sheriff Department, the Wabash Fire Department,  the Wabash County Emergency Management Agency, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wabash County Coroner Office.

 

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                                                                               Slocum