A driver who crashed is vehicle into a tree was in critical condition Sunday night, according to Fort Wayne police.Just before 8:30 p.m.An Auburn couple are dead after a single-vehicle crash in DeKalb County, Indiana State Police said.
Police are not sure when the couple’s Mazda 5 crashed but believe it was Friday night. The couple’s car was found by a passing motorist about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, state police spokesman Sgt. Ron Galaviz said.
When police arrived, the couple were dead inside their car in a ditch along County Road 42, just east of County Road 75, near St. Joe.
John McArdle, 69, and his wife, Karen McArdle, 63, were in the car, which had overturned and was in 4 feet of frozen water.
The couple were reported missing Friday night by family in Hicksville, Ohio, after they were more than three hours late to their destination, Galaviz said.
The McArdles had left Fort Wayne just after 5 p.m. and were expected to arrive in Hicksville just after 6 p.m. Friday, family told police.
Police said the last cell phone call made by the McArdles was about 7:30 p.m. Friday.
John McArdle was driving the Mazda east on County Road 42, Galaviz said, when he came upon a curve in the road and drove left of center. The Mazda was driven into a guardrail and then rolled into a watery ditch, Galaviz said.
“The undercarriage and wheels were iced over, indicating it had been there for a time period,” he said.
But just how long is undetermined. Police are not sure whether the couple died from injuries or from hypothermia. Autopsies are not expected.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Road conditions are not believed to have played a role.
