RENO, Nev. (AP) - Reno police are trying to determine why a parked vehicle suddenly accelerated forward, crossed a street and struck a tree, killing a female passenger.

The vehicle was parked Thursday afternoon outside a Neil Road
business when for unknown reasons it began moving forward,
investigators said.

The vehicle drove over a planter and sidewalk and crossed Neil Road before finally hitting a tree next to a South Virginia Street business.

The female passenger was taken to a Reno hospital, where she was
pronounced dead. The male driver was listed in stable condition at the hospital with minor injuries.

Their names were withheld pending notification of family members.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the 2 p.m. accident and its cause remains under investigation, police said Friday.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-09-08 1658EDT