Monday storms bring high waters

This car was stranded in the high waters of Big Walnut Creek just south of Crowe's Bridge Monday afternoon.

GREENCASTLE -- Severe storms early Monday morning may not have produced a tornado, but they left flooding in their wake.

Tornado warnings were issued at 2:40 a.m. in Putnam, Hendricks, Morgan and Marion counties after police reported seeing a tornado east of Greencastle. No official account of a tornado was confirmed.

Putnam County emergency management director Kim Hyten said the county was under a level 3 state of emergency due to flooding in various spots around the county. The torrential rains had State Road 236 closed due to flooding just east of U.S. 231.

Another heavily affected area was along Big Walnut Creek, where the raging waters left the stream swollen far beyond its banks. County Road 100E in northern Greencastle Township was covered with water for several hundred yards just south of Crowe's Bridge.

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to a call of a motorist stranded in the water shortly after noon on Monday.

The driver of a red Pontiac crossed the bridge heading south before attempting to drive through the water. After about 10 feet, a wheel got off the edge of the road, leaving the car stuck.

Greencastle firefighter John McPherson said GPD crews initially responded to the call from the south, but could not reach the driver. Another crew approached from the north and walked across the bridge.

The driver, whose name was unavailable to McPherson, walked through the water to meet the firefighters. McPherson said he was checked out by medical crews, but did not need treatment.

GPD called Cloverdale Township Fire Department for its rescue boat, but disregarded them en route.

Fire crews also assisted in the retrieval of the car.