CHERRYTWP — AProspect woman riding on the back of a snowmobile was killed Tuesday night when her neck struck the guidewire of a utility pole in front of Moniteau High School, authorities said.

An autopsy was planned today for Sandra Herold, 61, who died in the freak accident around 8:30 p.m.

Butler County Deputy Coroner Dennis Trzeciak pronounced Herold dead at the scene at 10 p.m. It appeared she suffered a fatal neck injury, according to investigators.

State police said Herold was a passenger on a large Polaris snowmobile driven by James Raisley, 53, of Slippery Rock Township.

Police, assisted by Butler County Coroner William Young III, are investigating the crash; no charges have been filed.

The relationship between Herold and Raisley was not immediately known.

Tracks in the knee-high snow indicated the pair had been riding the snowmobile on the lawn at the high school off Route 308. The crash occurred about 50 feet from the road.

Investigators believe Raisley may have driven too close to the utility pole — the only one on the expansive lawn — and was not aware of the supporting guidewire.

"The passenger was hit in the neck and it knocked her off the snowmobile,"Trzeciak said.

Herold was wearing a helmet and was heavily bundled up in winter clothing.

Raisley was not injured; a police news release did not say if he was wearing a helmet.

The owner of the snowmobile, which was undamaged, was not immediately identified.