SYRACUSE — A woman died in a car accident after she hit a deer and lost control early Friday morning north of town, according to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

Susana Meza, 36, of Cromwell, was driving west on U.S. 6 just east of C.R. 37 around 5:30 a.m. when a deer that was hit on the westbound lane was thrown into Meza’s path.

Meza struck the deer and lost control of her vehicle. The car ran off the side of U.S. 6 and into a ditch, striking a tree on the driver side and the roof.

Meza was pronounced dead at the scene, said Elkhart County Coroner John White.

The crash is under investigation by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department Crash Investigation Team.