FULTON COUNTY — At approximately 3:50 p.m. Sunday, August 17, 2025, the Rochester Fire Department was dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover accident on the 7000 block of North 475 East in Fulton County, Indiana.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel located a silver early-2010s Mercury Mariner SUV resting on its driver side against a tree. Tire tracks were visible across a pile of rocks placed to cover a drainage pipe near the roadway. It is speculated, though not confirmed, that the vehicle left the road for an unknown reason, lost balance on the rocks, and struck the tree slightly off-center, causing the SUV to bounce and overturn.

On their way to the scene, Parkview EMS experienced a flat tire on their ambulance and had to stop approximately a quarter mile from the crash. Personnel proceeded on foot to reach the incident. Because Parkview’s unit was out of service, an ambulance from the Mentone Tri-Township Fire Department also responded to provide coverage.

The driver was not at the scene when responders arrived. Out of concern for possible ejection or injury, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department deployed a drone to survey the surrounding area. The agency, along with the Rochester Police Department, recently acquired a fleet of drones, approximately a year ago, intended for search and rescue, accident reconstruction, and missing persons cases. While no driver was located during this search, the technology provided valuable aerial support in the effort.

In addition to the drone, a nearby property owner allowed their German Shepherd to aid in the search by attempting to track the missing driver. Despite these combined efforts, the driver’s whereabouts remain unknown.

The vehicle was removed from the scene around 5:00 p.m. by Tony’s City Wide Towing and Salvage.

Assisting the Rochester Fire Department in this incident were Parkview EMS, the Mentone Tri-Township Fire Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, and Tony’s City Wide Towing and Salvage.