A nun known for her love of books and music died Monday after being struck by a truck near Highland Parkway and Cretin Avenue in St. Paul.

The death of Sister Mary Beneva Schulte, CSJ, of St. Paul, appears to have been a "horrible accident," police spokesman Howie Padilla said.

Padilla said that the driver of the truck hit Schulte, 85, on Cretin Avenue after stopping at the intersection and turning left from Highland Parkway.

The St. Paul man was traveling at a "very low rate of speed," and swerved in an effort to avoid Schulte, Padilla said.

"It does not appear as if she was in the crosswalk," Padilla said.

He said that there was no indication that the 47-year-old driver was impaired at the time of the accident, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m.

State records show that he's had a number of driving violations over the past few years. But authorities are not likely to issue any citations, Padilla said.

Ann Thompson, communications director for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, said that Schulte was born in Minneapolis in 1926 and received a bachelor's degree in English/Education from the College of St. Catherine.

She taught grades 2-7 at many Twin Cities-area Catholic grade schools, including Blessed Sacrament, Holy Spirit and St. Columba in St. Paul; St. Michael in West St. Paul; Ascension and Holy Name in Minneapolis, and St. Raphael in Crystal.

Schulte also taught English as a second language and provided care to home-bound adults, Thompson said.

She retired in 2008 and loved to read, walk and sing.

Thompson said that many of the nuns who knew her said "she would want to go this way -- with no fuss, quickly."

ANTHONY LONETREE