Wellston man dies in Pike County floodwaters

The Pike County sheriff’s office is investigating the death of a Jackson County man Thursday morning in floodwaters.

Sheriff Charles Reader said in a news release that deputies received a 911 call from a motorist about a man lying in the center of Route 124 near Route 772.

Medics found the body of Donald Denny, 58, of Wellston.

Denny’s car was found more than 680 feet inside a “Road Closed” sign that had been placed by the Ohio Department of Transportation on Route 124 Wednesday night because of flooding on the road. Water found inside the vehicle indicates that at one point it was at least halfway submerged in the water, Reader said.

The sheriff said Denny might have drowned, though his death also could have been from overexertion from fighting the floodwater currents or a heart condition. An autopsy will be performed.

Reader called the incident “unfortunate” and a “tragedy,” with steps having been taken to protect motorists.

Six inches of moving water can have enough force to knock a person over and 2 feet of moving water can move a large vehicle, ODOT said.

The National Weather Service has placed all of central Ohio under a flood watch until 7 a.m. Friday. Anyone who lives near a river, creek or stream should be alert for rising water.