Swept-away driver found in creek

The body of George Joseph Pyshny, 56, of Carroll County, was recovered Monday from the Leatherwood Creek arm of Table Rock Lake.

Holiday Island Fire Chief Jack Deaton said two fishermen saw the body about 4 p.m. Monday. Deaton said Pyshny's wallet with identification was still in his pants pocket.

Deaton said Pyshny was driving a sport utility vehicle on the night of March 25 as storms moved through Northwest Arkansas. Pyshny drove to a flooded section of Arkansas 187 about 3 miles north of Eureka Springs.

Deaton said that, according to a witness, Pyshny stopped the vehicle, got out and looked at the flooded highway. He then got back in the vehicle and accelerated.

"He hammered it flying through there and hit that and it took him off into the creek," said Deaton.

The moving water swept the vehicle off the road and into Leatherwood Creek before flipping it, Deaton said. He said the water was about 4 feet deep over the highway in that area.

Pyshny apparently got out of the vehicle after it flipped in the water.

"As far as he went downstream, he probably got out of it swimming, I'd guess, because he went about a mile down the creek," Deaton said.

Rescue workers searched for Pyshny for days, Deaton said, but they were unable to locate his body until Monday. Deaton said the body will be sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock.

Metro on 04/08/2015

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