A woman was killed yesterday when a trailer came loose from the truck that was towing it, crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed into the car she was driving on Route 19 in Washington County.

The victim was identified as Michelle K. Kott, 36, of Ellsworth.

North Strabane police Officer John Wybranowski said a man and his passenger were traveling south in a Dodge Ram pickup truck pulling a small, two-wheeled utility trailer downhill on the rain-slicked road just north of Racetrack Road near The Meadows Racetrack and Casino at about 3:15 p.m.

Somehow, he said, the trailer disengaged between Conklin Road and Meadowbrook Drive and crossed into the left lane of Route 19 north.

Officer Wybranowski said Ms. Kott was driving a Ford Taurus uphill in the left lane and apparently tried to swerve to the right, but her car struck another vehicle traveling in that lane.

Witnesses said the trailer went over the slightly raised median and flipped into the air, crashing into the windshield of the Taurus.

Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco said Ms. Kott died at the scene. Two passengers in her car -- a woman and a young child -- were flown to UPMC Presbyterian and Children's Hospital, respectively.

Officer Wybranowski said no charges were filed pending an investigation.

The accident was reminiscent of an April 2006 incident in which a wood-chipper detached from a truck on Route 8 in Richland and struck a minivan coming in the other direction, killing a Cranberry man and two of his 4-year-old triplets.

The driver of that truck, Bradley Demitras of Pine, was sentenced to nine to 18 months in jail.