Woman, 67, dies of natural causes while driving

8/5/2004

PANDORA, Ohio - A woman died at the wheel of her car Tuesday on a country road in eastern Putnam County's Blanchard Township north of here.

Ella Hazelton, 67, of Pandora was southbound on County Road 5 north of County Road M when her vehicle went off the west side of Road 5 into a cornfield.

Though the vehicle was undamaged, Ms. Hazelton was taken to St. Rita's Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. She died prior to the accident of natural causes, according to Putnam County Coroner Dr. Oliver Lugibihl.

"She had some bad natural diseases. She really shouldn't have been driving," Dr. Lugibihl said.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the incident.