HOWARD TOWNSHIP — A woman who swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway was hospitalized Monday after her car went into a ditch, according to the Cass County Sheriff Richard J. Behnke.

The accident occurred around 6:18 a.m. on M-60 near Pine Lake Street in Howard Township. The driver, Susan Martin, 58, was traveling north when a deer jumped into the road and she tried to avoid hitting the animal.

Susan was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Hospital in Niles for treatment of head and neck pain.  Alcohol is not believed to be a factor and a seat belt was used, Cass County authorities said.

Assisting agencies included Howard Township Fire Department and SMCAS Ambulance.