Woman stepped out of SUV before impact

SOUTHINGTON – The Ohio State Highway Patrol said it will take a week or so to determine why Tina M. Roberts stepped out of her sports-utility vehicle, then was killed when struck by a minivan.

Lt. Joseph Dragovich, commander of the patrol’s post here, said the patrol initially reported that Roberts fell out of the SUV that was being driven by her husband, Richard L. Roberts Jr., 38. They are from Mecca.

Initially the patrol reported that she fell out of the SUV, but revisited what had happened after re-interviewing witnesses and taking a closer look at the damage to the Roberts vehicle, Dragovich said.

The Roberts SUV was turning left from McCleary-Jacoby Road onto state Route 305 in Bazetta Township early Sunday when she stepped out. A minivan driven by a Burghill man that was eastbound on Route 305 then struck her.

The final report, Dragovich said, will shed some light on why Tina Roberts stepped out of the SUV.