At approximately 1:40 p.m. Thursday, 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, 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 Long, 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.