Flooded Creek Sweeps Away 4-Year-Old Boy

Owen Jones is just 4 years old
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted May 25, 2019 5:35 PM CDT
Flooded Creek Sweeps Away 4-Year-Old Boy
Owen Jones.   (Indiana Department of Natural Resources)

Authorities are desperately searching for a 4-year-old Indiana boy who was carried away by a flooded creek on Thursday, CBS News reports. A witness saw Owen Jones get pulled downstream by Deer Creek in Delphi and told authorities, triggering a search by drone, boat, and sonar. But it switched to a recovery effort around noon on Friday, authorities say. Owen was likely playing in Riley Park, where the creek passes through, when rain-swollen water and a strong current caught him by surprise.

"It wouldn't be uncommon to find people wading or swimming in the water here,” Lt. Dan Dulin tells WLFI. "I feel like it's probably just the kids misunderstood or just didn't realize how the conditions today or yesterday were different than what they saw the last time." With the water level down about a foot since Friday, Dulin says the search will continue "whether it's by foot or small boat or kayak." Meanwhile, people have gathered to comfort the family as they brace for the news. "More than anybody else they’re looking for a quick resolution,” says Dulin. "They understand the situation that we have." (In related news, a wife's tragic drowning led to charges against the husband.)

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