INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The body of a second man has been found in the White River, five days after he and another kayaker capsized in turbulent waters at the remnants of a dam, authorities said Tuesday.
The body of Marcus Robinson, 30, was recovered near Indianapolis’ 10th Street Bridge, several hours after a passerby spotted the body of Solomon Shirley, 22, near the city’s Michigan Street bridge, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ law enforcement division said.
A witness saw both Indianapolis men being thrown into the river on April 17 when they traveled over the remnants of the 16th Street dam. These “low head” dams run all the way across a waterway and are designed so that the water constantly flows over them. They’re known as “drowning machines” because the water is deceptively calm upstream, but a turbulent circular backwash can form on the downstream side, particularly when water levels are high.
“We had just had a ton of rain, and so the water was very high. They got too close to the dam, got caught in the current and went over,” said Lt. Angela Goldman, a state conservation officer.
Conservation officers had searched the river and its shoreline while also conducting aerial searches with drones and a helicopter, the DNR said.
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