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Police unsure of charges in fatal crash
North Strabane Township police have completed their report on a Dec. 15 crash that killed an Ellsworth woman when a trailer broke loose from a pickup truck on Route 19 near Conklin Road and hit her car.
Michelle Kott, 36, was killed when a trailer broke free from the pickup truck driven by Ryan S. Bier, 18, of North Strabane.
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Also injured was the driver of a third vehicle, Joseph Stiles Jr., 73, of East Washington.
Bier had been driving south on Route 19 when the trailer broke loose and crossed into the northbound lanes where Kott and Stiles were traveling.
Bier told police that he was going about 40 mph when he felt the trailer pulling hard on the truck and then heard a loud pop.
He told police he took evasive action to have the trailer hitch come in contact with the tailgate of the truck and come to a stop.
He said a large gust of wind picked up the trailer off the road and tossed it into oncoming traffic.
The 18-year-old told police that the trailer was already on the truck when he left his family's business, A & S Landscaping, on Route 19.
His twin brother, Justin Bier, jumped on the rear of the trailer to check the connection before leaving the lot.
The hitch and trailer are in the custody of state police.
Police Sgt. David Richards said Wednesday that no decision on whether charges will be filed against Bier will be made until the state police accident reconstruction specialist completes his report.
Township police will then consult with the office of Washington County District Attorney Steven Toprani. Richards said it will be several months before any decision is made.
Trailer : 1/22/2009
Was the trailer empty at the time or was it hauling a heavy load?
Trailer : 1/22/2009
Empty, I believe.
