Police in Jackson Township are investigating the death of Sharon Petrich, 66, of Cranberry Township, whose body was found in a Honda Accord that crashed through a guardrail and rolled down an embankment off Route 19 Tuesday morning.

JACKSON TWP — Police said a 66-year-old Cranberry Township woman died Tuesday morning about the time her car crashed through a guardrail and rolled down an embankment off Route 19.

Jackson Township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer identified the woman as Sharon Petrich of Unionville Road. He said she likely crashed several hours before she was discovered off northbound Route 19 just before the Zelienople on-ramp to Interstate 79.

Butler County 911 got a call about the car at 7:52 a.m. Tuesday.

A neighbor of Petrich, Dianna Drugmand, described Petrich as “a very kind and sweet person” who enjoyed spending time with her four grandchildren. “They were very important to her.”

John Hanovick, the chief deputy coroner for Butler County, said an autopsy was conducted Tuesday afternoon, the results of which are expected in four to six weeks when toxicology test results are known.

He said Petrich had a head injury, although officials are unsure if she had a medical issue before the car accident.

“There very well could have been medical issues before the crash, but she definitely had head trauma,” he said.

Hanovick said toxicology tests won't be available for several weeks.

Seilhamer also said the accident could have been caused by a medical issue since her injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening.

“Perhaps she fell asleep or had a medical condition before leaving the road,” Seilhamer said. “That's a decision for the coroner to make.”

Seilhamer said the woman's husband told him on Tuesday that he did not know of any medical condition affecting his wife, but that she had called off sick from work on Monday.

She worked in the day care section of the Giant Eagle in Seven Fields, Seilhamer said.

He said the husband told him he had no idea why she would have been driving in that area.

Seilhamer said police would inspect her car for any mechanical problems that could have contributed to the accident.

He said Petrich had just descended the long hill past Route 528 when her car veered to the right and went through the guardrail.

The car then traveled into an embankment and partially up the other side of a hill. It's not clear when the accident occurred or how long the woman was in the car before officials arrived.

The Harmony and Zelienople fire departments responded to the accident.

<I>Eagle staff writers Joe Genco, Jeff Forward and Jim Smith contributed to this report.</i>