A Penn State employee who was killed by a tractor-trailer Thursday afternoon may have committed suicide, authorities say.

Xiaoping "Helen" He, 47, was driving with her husband on Route 322 when she pulled onto the shoulder of the highway, Pennsylvania State Police at Rockview said.

He, of State College, exited the car and was then struck by the tractor-trailer, police said. No foul play is suspected.

"She will be missed by her colleagues, and our thoughts are with her family," Penn State spokeswoman Jill Shockey said.

Shockey said He was a computer software developer for the World Campus.

"It's our understanding she was instrumental in a number of key initiatives within the university," Shockey said.