Staff writer
Brandy Curtis lost her "big sister" Monday afternoon when a trailer broke loose from a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction on Route 19 and crashed into their car.
The 22-year-old Bentleyville woman is calling for improvements to trailers and hitches so others won't have to go through the heartache she and her family are suffering along with family and friends of Michelle Kott.
Kott, 36, of Ellsworth, was pronounced dead at the scene when the trailer broke loose from a southbound pickup truck driven by Ryan Scott Bier, 18, of Canonsburg, and crashed into her northbound car. The wreck occurred in North Strabane Township, near the Meadowbrook development.
Curtis and her 5-year-old daughter, Summer Rush, were passengers in Kott's car. Both were taken to Pittsburgh hospitals for treatment. Curtis had bones shattered in her face and needed stitches to close a wound on her eyelid. Her daughter suffered a brain bruise and broken left eye socket. The girl was seated behind Kott. Also injured was Joseph Stiles Jr., 73, of Washington. His vehicle was struck by Kott's car when she tried to swerve out of the way. He was treated at Washington Hospital.
The three were heading toward McMurray from Washington. They were going to pick up Curtis' cousin, and Kott had an appointment.
"She saw a woman she used to work with when we were stopped at a red light," Curtis said. "She opened the car door, leaned out and waved."
When the light turned green, Kott continued up the hill.
"We were talking. I don't remember even seeing the trailer. I just remember a hard impact," Curtis said. "Michelle's head was on my shoulder. My daughter was passed out. The car was on fire. I kicked open my door and pulled my daughter out."
Curtis took her daughter across the road and went back for Kott.
"They told me it was too late," Curtis said. "I didn't want to hear that. It was just terrible."
Curtis said the car was demolished. Its roof was ripped off.
"We are so lucky to even be alive," she said of her and her daughter. "Looking at the car, I don't know how we did make it."
Curtis had known Kott for about 15 years. She was about 7 years old when Kott started dating Curtis' cousin. Kott remained close even after they broke up.
"Even though we weren't related, she was like my big sister," Curtis said. "She helped me with lots of stuff."
Curtis said her 3-year-old son is afraid to come to her because of her injuries. Her daughter is asking if she is still pretty.
"She has a lot of questions," Curtis said of her daughter. "She'll be going to therapy and counseling with me."
Curtis said her friend is not the only person to be killed when a trailer had broken loose, referring to the Butler County father and two of his three triplets who were killed two years ago in northern Allegheny County.
"Whether it was accidental or not, something needs to be done to make trailers and hitches safer, whether with the manufacturer or legislation," Curtis said. "I want to do something to make it better. Michelle was a great woman. It was not her time to go."
Township police Detective John Wybranowski said investigators have completed all of their interviews. State police obtained a search warrant and inspected the truck and trailer Wednesday. Once the investigation is completed, police will present the case to the Washington County district attorney's office for a determination on whether charges should be filed.