Woman killed by plow in Center Moriches

A Mastic Beach woman was struck and killed Wednesday afternoon by a pickup truck plowing a Center Moriches bus company parking lot, police said.

Doris Metz, 64, an employee of the First Student Charter Bus Rental Co., 180 Railroad Ave., was struck as she was walking to a company office building at 2:40 p.m., Suffolk police said.

Edward Grundstrom, 47, of Manorville, another employee of the company, was plowing the lot, operating a company-owned 2003 Ford F-250 pickup truck with a plow attached, police said.

Grundstrom apparently didn't see Metz because of the poor visibility, police said, and struck her when he backed up the vehicle.

"He backed up and hit her," said Det. Sgt. James McGuiness of the 7th Squad. "He wasn't aware she was behind. . . . It was a time when it was changing over to rain, like rainy snow . . . not the best time for seeing."

Metz was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Patchogue, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

The vehicle was impounded by police for a safety check. Seventh Squad detectives asked that anyone with information contact them at 631-852-8752 or call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.