AUBURN – On Tuesday, August 27, at approximately 9:15 p.m., the Indiana State Police and the Auburn Police Department responded to the 1400 block of North Main Street to investigate a reported car-versus-pedestrian crash near the intersection of Matthews Cove.
Arriving on the scene, officers found an unresponsive elderly man on the ground being tended to by good Samaritans. The injured pedestrian was James W. Hatfield, 82, of Auburn.
Auburn police officers, DeKalb Parkview EMS personnel, and Auburn Fire Department personnel attempted lifesaving medical assistance. However, Hatfield was pronounced deceased at the scene by the DeKalb County Coroner.
The driver involved in the crash was James Schmucker, 56, of Fort Wayne, driving a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Schmucker was not injured. He cooperated with investigators. His vehicle was found to be in good condition, and he was not under the influence of any substances at the time of the incident.
The Indiana State Police assumed the overall crash investigation. Police found Schmucker was operating his Chevy Trailblazer south on Main Street just north of the Matthew Cove intersection. James Hatfield entered Main Street on foot in the southbound lane of travel, walking directly across the path of the oncoming Trailblazer. Schmucker’s vehicle struck Hatfield with its bumper. Schmucker came to a stop just off the roadway, and Hatfield’s body remained lying in the roadway.
Investigators do not suspect excessive vehicle speed or any chemical impairment as contributing factors in the crash.
The DeKalb County Coroner conducted an autopsy of the deceased earlier today, which included toxicology testing.
Schmucker also submitted to chemical testing for intoxication, as required by Indiana law for all drivers involved in crashes resulting in serious bodily injury or death. All toxicology tests are currently pending, and the results will be included in the final report.
The Hatfield family was notified shortly after the crash.
The Indiana State Police were assisted in their investigation by the Auburn Police Department, Auburn Fire Department, Parkview DeKalb EMS, and the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office. Their prompt and professional assistance was instrumental in thoroughly investigating this tragic incident.
