Dec 2, 2011 By Steve Barrett 2 min read

FRANKLIN TWP. — State police continue to investigate a fatal accident that claimed the life of a Greene County woman earlier this week.

Police said Gina M. Rice, 23, of Oak Forest was killed Sunday night when the vehicle she was driving overturned on Route 18 in Franklin Township. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Bill Lewis Jr.

According to Trooper Matthew J. Jardine, Rice was traveling west on Route 18, about 200 feet west of Route 479, at 9:45 p.m. when the crash occurred.

Jardine said Rice lost control of her 1997 Pontiac Sunfire as she negotiated a left curve in the road, causing her vehicle to travel off of the road and strike a tree.

After impact, Jardine said the car overturned multiple times, causing Rice and a passenger, Robert A. Wilson, 29, also of Oak Forest, to be ejected from the vehicle.

Wilson was flown from the scene by medical helicopter to UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment of major injuries.

An update on his condition was not available as of press time.

Neither Rice nor Wilson were wearing seat belts, police said.

An autopsy conducted Monday by Dr. Cyril Wecht confirmed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and chest.

Toxicology test results were not available by press time.

Police said they are continuing to investigate what might have caused the crash.