Drowning was not the cause of death for a father and son found dead in car near Moberly

Friday evening Gerald Luntsford with the Randolph County Coroner’s office told ABC 17 News drowning was not the cause of death for a John or Caeden Clardy.

Luntsford told ABC 17 News, John Clardy, the father, was not wearing his seat belt and suffered from severe trauma.

The exact cause of death or cause of the accident is not known.

ABC 17 News confirmed with the Missouri Highway Patrol in Macon on Thursday that John Clardy, 31, and his son, Caeden Clardy, 2, have been found dead in an upside-down vehicle in a creek near Moberly Thursday.

Randolph County Coroner Gerald Luntsford said he got the call around 1:30 Thursday afternoon.

Clardy was driving west on Highway EE in a Pontiac Bonneville when he ran off the road, struck an embankment, flipped the car and then landed in the creek. Clardy and his son were both pronounced dead at the scene.

A family friend told ABC 17 News that Clardy and his son were last seen Wednesday around 2 p.m. It was roughly 24 hours later when calls came into the Missouri Highway Patrol. A MoDot crew came across a car in a creek while repairing signs on Highway EE in Randolph County.

The friend also said Clardy had a history of seizures. Law enforcement is not saying whether that could have been a factor in the accident.

The autopsy Friday should be able to confirm what Clardy’s cause of death was. No foul play is suspected.