Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal ATV accident which occurred in Whitley County at approximately 9:30 p.m. Thursday night.

There were no witnesses to the accident, but evidence indicates the ATV was northbound on Johnson Road just south of Chapine Road, when it left the west side of the roadway in the area of a curve. The ATV appears to have continued traveling northbound for a short distance, just off the edge of the roadway and along a small embankment before flipping over and throwing both occupants to the ground.

Jodie Deck, 38, of Fort Wayne, was pronounced dead at the scene. Caleb Ball, 38, also of Fort Wayne, was listed in critical condition at the scene and flown by Samaritan to Parkview Regional Medical Center. An autopsy is scheduled to determine an exact cause of death for Deck.

Conservation officers say neither of the occupants on the ATV had a helmet on at the time of the accident and it appears alcohol may have been a contributing factor.

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted on scene by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Churubusco Police, Indiana State Police, Union Township Fire Department, Whitley County EMS and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.

Currently the accident is under investigation and further details regarding this accident will be released when available.