Severe storms leave at least five dead in Indiana after tornado hits Lake Village and floodwaters sweep vehicles away
At least five people were reported dead across Indiana after severe storms triggered flooding and a destructive tornado between March 8 and 10, 2026. Two people were killed in Lake Village, Newton County, when a tornado destroyed multiple homes on March 10, while three others died in separate flooding incidents.
At least five people have been reported dead due to flooding and tornadoes in Indiana over the last few days. At least two fatalities were confirmed in Lake Village, Newton County, after an apparent tornado ripped through the area, destroying multiple homes on March 10.
Officials from the Lake Township Fire Department confirmed the two fatalities following the Lake Village tornado during a press conference early on March 11. Additional details about the victims had not yet been released.
Meanwhile, flooding caused at least three fatalities across southern Indiana between March 8 and 10. Two people were found dead on March 10 after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters near the East Fork White River on March 8.
The vehicle was submerged in about 2.5 m (8 feet) of water when it was located near Earl Road and Lawrenceport Road on March 10.
Another fatality was reported in Jackson County, where a 55-year-old man was found dead on March 8 after being reported missing near a flooded area east of Cortland.
The victim, identified as Bradley Deaton, was a passenger in an airboat that had been attempting to assist people stranded in a submerged vehicle near County Road 400 East and State Road 258. Investigators said the boat experienced mechanical problems and was forced under a nearby bridge by swift floodwaters.
The operator was able to rescue himself, but Deaton was swept downstream. Authorities said neither man was wearing a life jacket.
In Martin County, conservation officers were still searching on March 10 for James Petty, 82, of Fortville, after his truck was swept off Spout Springs Road south of Shoals near the White River, an area the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) described as prone to flooding.
According to DNR, a passenger in the vehicle called 911 for help at 14:37 local time on March 9 after climbing out of a window and holding onto a nearby tree vine.
Emergency responders launched a boat and rescued the passenger, but Petty remained missing on March 10 as crews continued surface searches and sonar operations in swift-moving water.
References:
1 2 fatalities reported, multiple homes destroyed after northwest Indiana community takes ‘direct hit’ from apparent tornado – WTHR 13 – March 11, 2026
2 Southern Indiana flooding turns deadly as 3 die and 1 remains missing – Bloomingtonian – March 10, 2026
Featured image credit: Washington County Indiana Sheriff’s Department
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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