Donald Mellem was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday afternoon when he suffered an apparent heart attack.

A jogger running along Mower County No. 45 east of Austin saw a car wedged next to a culvert in a deep drainage ditch about a quarter mile west of U.S. Highway 218.

When Austin Police Department officers first arrived, they discovered a lone occupant in the car. He had opened his shirt, stuck a warning flag outside the window and opened the sunroof on the automobile.

According to a Mower County Sheriff's Department report, Mellem, 70, was last seen alive 3 p.m. Saturday by a neighbor before his body was discovered at 8:20 p.m.

Early indications are that Mellem had a history of heart problems, but an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Mellem lived at 405 South Main St. According to neighbors, he was found of driving to his favorite restaurant, Johnny's Main Event for afternoon coffee and then taking a car ride to explore antiques.

The Minnesota State Patrol also investigated the death. No skid marks were observed leading to the place on the west side of County No. 45 where the vehicle went off the roadway and into a deep ravine out of sight to passing motorists until the jogger discovered it.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com