A woman who owned a Chinese restaurant with her husband in Columbus died when she attempted to cross a road on the city’s northeast side on her way home, authorities said.
Bao Yue Qiu, 62, was struck by a vehicle a few blocks from her home in the 4000 block of Charleston Place, authorities said.
She died of blunt force trauma as a result of the 7:20 p.m. Wednesday accident near the intersection of 25th Street and Taylor Road, Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting and Deputy Coroner Jay Frederick said.
Qiu operated Yee Kee restaurant, at 3984 E. 25th St., with her husband, Yuan Li Zhu, Nolting said.
Columbus police officers responded to the scene of the crash after receiving several 911 phone calls.
The investigating officers determined that Jennifer Pearson, 41, of Waldron in southern Shelby County, the driver of a Jeep Patriot sport-utility vehicle, was traveling east on 25th Street near Taylor Road when her vehicle struck the woman, who was walking south across 25th Street, said Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for Columbus Police Department.
Harris said it was dark at the time and Qiu attempted to cross the street east of the intersection, not at a cross walk.
“It appears to be accidental,” Harris said of the crash.
The injured pedestrian was transported by ambulance to Columbus Regional Hospital, where she later died from her injuries, Harris said.
Blood was drawn from Pearson after the accident to test for alcohol and drugs, which is standard procedure in a fatal accident, Harris said. Results are pending, but police do not believe alcohol was a factor, he said.
The posted speed limit where the accident occurred is 35 mph, Harris said, but how fast Pearson was traveling was not immediately known.
The department’s investigation is continuing.
