Car-bus crash kills local woman

1/16/2009

A Maumee woman was killed when the car she was driving collided with a TARTA bus early yesterday afternoon in Springfield Township, authorities said.

Laura Kusz, 43, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. The crash occurred about 1 p.m. on Holland Sylvania Road south of Airport Highway.

Troopers with the Toledo post said Ms. Kusz was northbound on Holland Sylvania when she lost control of her vehicle, went left of center, and was struck by a southbound TARTA bus.

The bus driver, Diane Pitzen, 60, of Toledo, was not injured but was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center as a precaution, troopers said. There were three passengers on the bus. Two of them, LaDonna Monroe, 26, and Patty Monroe, 55, both of Toledo, were treated for minor injuries at Toledo Hospital. The other passenger was not injured, authorities said.