Shellie Smarowsky, a 21-year-old Penn State student, died yesterday after a pedestrian/school bus accident on the corner of East Beaver Avenue and South Garner Street.

The incident took place at about 9 a.m. Shortly after, Smarowsky was taken to Centre Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from a "blunt force trauma to the chest," said Scott A. Sayers, Centre County Coroner, in a press release.

Smarowsky was crossing the intersection on South Garner Street at the time the bus was turning right onto South Garner Street from East Beaver Avenue.

The State College Area School District Bus was operated by David Johnson, 27, of Boalsburg. Four Grace Lutheran School children were on the bus at the time of the accident. None of the children were injured.

Smarowsky, from the Philadelphia suburb of West Chester, moved in with her boyfriend of more than two years at the beginning of the semester.

"She was my best friend," said Mike Weinstock, Smarowsky's roommate and boyfriend.

Weinstock had to break the traumatic news to Smarowsky's mother.

"She was hysterical. I was crying, she was crying," Weinstock said. "I'm all cried out."

Smarowsky's mother was unable to comment last night.

Weinstock, sitting in the room he shared with Smarowsky in Park Hill apartments, looked through personal belongings and pictures, with the support of his mother, Mary, and close friend of Smarowsky's, Nick Bartilomo. The three talked about their fond memories of their times with Smarowsky.

The room, covered in framed photographs of the smiling couple and their friends, was blanketed by an aura of sadness.

Bartilomo nodded in quiet agreement to what Mike and Mary Weinstock said about Smarowsky. The three smiled through tear-filled eyes, recalling the fond memories of Smarowsky's personality.

"She was really passionate. She was the hardest worker -- so incredibly smart," Mike Weinstock said. "She was ready to go out and get the world."

Mike Weinstock looked at his mother and friend, recalling the many times Smarowsky helped him through rough times he had.

"How many problems has she been there for me -- she was the strongest girl," Weinstock said.

Clutching a tissue, Mary Weinstock said, "She's the sweetest girl in the world."

Mike Weinstock said Smarowsky was someone special.

"She was kind of standoffish, but once you got to know her, you just loved her," he said.

Katie Ellis, of State College, said she witnessed the accident early yesterday morning.

"I don't know how to feel. You just don't expect to see something like that. I can't believe it happened," Ellis said. "I bawled all morning. I thought I was going to get sick."

Ellis said the situation was shocking.

"Life turns a corner and . . . I didn't know what to think," she said.

State College Police Department Sgt. John Gardner said the accident is still under investigation.

"There are still a couple of questions we want to clear up," Gardner said.

Gardner is asking anyone with information about the incident to please call the State College Police Department at 814-234-7150.