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Longtime Iowa sportscaster killed as rain swamps Des Moines

Two men sit stranded in their cars, surrounded by flood water from Fourmile Creek on the bridge at the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on Des Moines' east side on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018 after heavy rain fell overnight. The creek crested at a record 17.47 feet around 6:00 a.m. (Kelsey Kremer/The Des Moines Register via AP)
Two men sit stranded in their cars, surrounded by flood water from Fourmile Creek on the bridge at the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on Des Moines' east side on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018 after heavy rain fell overnight. The creek crested at a record 17.47 feet around 6:00 a.m. (Kelsey Kremer/The Des Moines Register via AP)

By Associated Press 2 min read

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A longtime Iowa sportscaster has died in flash flooding in Des Moines amid heavy rain that forced the evacuation of some homes and businesses in one suburb.

Police said 66-year-old Larry Cotlar died Saturday when he was swept away in floodwater after his van stalled on a flooded north Des Moines street. Cotlar had worked as the voice of Drake University’s teams since 2005.

Drake athletics director Briand Hardin said he respected Cotlar’s work and who he was.

“We all had the utmost respect – not just for Larry’s talent, but for the kind of quality person and colleague he was. Larry was loyal, passionate and tireless,” Hardin said.

Witnesses told police Cotlar was swept away as he got out of his stalled van. His body was found nearly four hours later, several blocks away.