Saturday evening just before eleven o'clock several juveniles were playing in a culvert near the 4000 block of Route 36 West in Champaign County. High, fast-moving storm water had accumulated in the ditch. The rapid current swept a twelve-year-old boy into a drainage pipe.

The drainage pipe traveled underneath State Route 560 and emptied into a crop field area.

Emergency personnel and local residents searched the area for Chancelor Eckelbarger of Urbana.

A local resident found the victim in a flooded cornfield and carried him to EMS personnel.

Eckelbarger was transported to Urbana Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Urbana Fire Division, the St. Paris Fire/EMS Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Champaign County Sheriff's Office, the Champaign County CERT Team, and local residents responded to the tragedy.

As a result of the severe storm damage, an emergency shelter has been opened by the Mad River Chapter of the American Red Cross.  Individuals needing to evacuate their homes can seek assistance at the CCAC Building at 955 N. Main St. in Urbana.

Furthermore, phone lines have been established to report storm damage that occurred on July 12th.  A name, contact number, and brief description of the property damage are required.  The numbers are 937-484-1642 and 937-484-1643.

This was the second storm to hit Champaign County this summer.

Urbana was pounded by heavy rain and severe thunderstorms on June 25th.