Three people were sent to the hospital Sunday afternoon after their vehicle was rear-ended and sent off the M-60 outside Vandalia, according to authorities with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the passengers, David Raeder, 54, of Elkhart, was air lifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he was listed in critical condition. The other two passengers, Delbert Raeder and Carla Moore, also of Elkhart, were taken to Three Rivers ER and were listed in stable condition.

The accident occurred at 2:55 p.m. A Jeep, driven by Delbert Raeder, was traveling east on M-60 near White Temple Road when a pickup truck that was speeding behind the vehicle crashed into its backside. The collision forced the Jeep off the road. It then ran into a tree located on the lawn of nearby house.

The driver of the pickup truck fled from the scene and has not been located by police. Officers describe it as a newer model with a dark paint job. The vehicle suffered damage to its front end as a result of the accident and was leaking fluids.

The three injured passengers were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Authorities believe that alcohol played a role in the accident.

The sheriff’s office was assisted by Penn Township Fire Department, Life Care Ambulance, Newberg Township Ambulance and Med Flight at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the other vehicle should call their local dispatch or the Cass County Sheriff’s tip line at 1-800-462-9328.