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Tuesday, March 26, 2002

EDGEWOOD: Hundreds oppose busway

Several hundred residents spoke last night against the 2.3-mile extension of the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway.

A copy of a draft agreement between the borough and the Port Authority was presented to the audience, who complained that buses will cause pollution, the linear park is too narrow for bicycles and the Port Authority should install light-rail transit rather than buses on the roadway.

It is unknown when council will vote on the agreement.

Council President Regis Griffin said, "It is not a done deal, but LRT is not an option at this time."

STATE COLLEGE: Student found dead

Toxicology tests will be performed on a Penn State University student found dead in her dorm room, officials said.

Bethany Cynthia Smith, 18, of Ambler, Montgomery County, had no pulse and was not breathing when she was found in her Thompson Hall dorm room early Sunday morning. She was pronounced dead less than an hour later at Centre Community Hospital.

Campus police said there was no evidence of foul play.

PUNXSUTAWNEY: Snow blamed in fatal crash

A Punxsutawney woman was killed yesterday when she lost control of her car on a slippery road and crashed into a flatbed truck.

Marianne Shaffer, 39, died at Punxsutawney Hospital. Her daughter, Alexa, 7, and the truck driver, Clair E. Neal, 63, of Coolspring, suffered minor injuries.

The accident happened at 8:30 a.m. on Route 36 near Sprankles Mills Road, Perry. Shaffer was driving south. Her car went into a slide, crossed into the opposing lane and collided with Neal's truck.

The road was lightly covered with snow and a moderately heavy snow was falling.

Shaffer was not wearing her seat belt. Her daughter and Neal were belted.

GREENSBURG: Jury sought for Erie case

Jury selection began in Greensburg yesterday for the trial of an Erie County man accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter because he did not want to continue paying child support.

Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk is seeking the death penalty against Stephen E. Treiber of Millcreek, who is charged with setting a house fire that killed Jessica Treiber on March 9, 2001.

Investigators said Treiber, 32, set the fire to avoid paying $1,000-a-month child support to his former wife, Jodie L. Treiber of McKeesport, and to collect on an insurance policy.

In October, Erik A. Keith of Erie admitted helping Treiber plan the fire.