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Officers are also interviewing the driver of the car to find out why he left the scene of the Sunday afternoon crash on M-53 at Frenchline Road.

David and Carole Stieler were listed in critical condition in separate hospitals after their Harley Davidson motorcycle apparently struck the car Sunday afternoon.

The preliminary investigation indicated David Stieler was riding north with his wife as a passenger, when the Harley struck the rear-end of the car that was turning east onto Frenchline.

A passing motorist called 911 at 1:55 p.m. after spotting the motorcycle in the middle of the highway and the Stielers lying nearby on the pavement, said Sgt. Paul Rich of the Sanilac County Sheriff Department.

The bike had slid approximately 150 feet after the collision.

David, owner of Carco Auto Electric of Marlette, was flown by EMS helicopter from the scene to St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw.

Carole, the Sanilac County Circuit Court administrator, was transported to Marlette Regional Hospital and airlifted to Hurley Hospital in Flint, according to Rich. The hospital has not confirmed that she is a patient.

Both bikers were wearing helmets at the time of the crash, Rich said.

Officers arriving at the scene could find no eye-witnesses to the crash. Deputies suspected a car had been involved when they found part of a broken left taillight on the highway.

On Sunday evening, a citizen's tip led deputies to the car at a residence in the Marlette area.

"We have located and have impounded the car involved in the accident," said Rich Monday afternoon. "We have made contact with the driver. Our investigation is continuing on to determine the cause and who was at fault in the accident."

According to Rich, the driver Ð a Marlette area resident in his 30s -stopped at the scene but left before officers arrived and didn't report the accident.

In addition to the broken tail light on the driver's side, there are scrape marks on the car from the back to the front, Rich said. The car also blew a tire at the scene.

Anyone who saw the collision or has information about the accident is asked to call the sheriff department at 1-810-648-2000.