The Herald Bulletin

August 9, 2009

Crash with MercyMe tour bus kills two; woman in critical condition


FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Authorities say a Fort Wayne woman remained in critical condition after her car hit a Christian band’s tour bus, causing a wreck that took the life of her unborn baby and the two passengers riding in the car she was driving.

Parkview Hospital says 18-year-old Kara Klinker remained in critical condition Sunday.

Klinker was nearly nine months pregnant at the time of Saturday’s crash. The Allen County Coroner’s Office says Klinker’s baby was declared stillborn shortly after Klinker arrived at the hospital.

The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reports that the two car passengers who died in the crash were 17-year-old Barbara R. Schmucker and 19-year-old Dario L. Boutte.

No one from the Texas-based band MercyMe was seriously injured.