WAKARUSA -- A driver was airlifted to a South Bend hospital and his passenger was taken to a local hospital Tuesday evening after their car hit a tree on C.R. 32.

Elkhart resident Thomas Nelson, 27, was eastbound on C.R. 32 near C.R. 3.

When the car started to go off the south side of the road, he overcorrected and lost control. The car went into a cornfield and rolled before hitting a tree on the north side, according to Ptl. Andrew Ahlersmeyer of the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department.

Nelson was unconscious with a head injury, according to police at the scene. He was taken to Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Nelson suffered fractured vertebrae and a spinal cord injury, according to a crash release sent late Tuesday by the sheriff's department.

Nelson's passenger, Tracey Tweedy, 50, of Elkhart, was conscious and had a minor head injury, pain and bleeding, according to the release. He was taken to Elkhart General Hospital.

The county's fatal crash team is investigating the accident, which happened about 5:45 p.m.