KITTANNING TWP, Armstrong County — Authorities have identified the motorist killed Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle crash that closed heavily traveled Route 422.

Dorothy Lynn LaVan, 55, of Indiana, Pa., died when the 2004 Subaru Forester she was driving collided with a coal truck about 5 miles east of Kittanning near Dunbar Airport Road, state police said.

A second coal truck crashed when its driver tried to avoid the accident that happened shortly before rush hour.

Armstrong County Deputy Coroner Robert Bellas pronounced LaVan dead at the scene. An autopsy found she died of massive injuries to her chest and abdomen.

Lavan’s husband, Robert S. LaVan, 55, a passenger, was injured in the crash, authorities said.

Bellas said the couple was on their way home after spending the Memorial Day holiday weekend with relatives in Ohio.

Their sport utility vehicle was traveling east about 5:15 a.m. when LaVan began to pass a 2002 Peterbilt tri-axle truck driven by Patrick Crawford, 46, of New Bethlehem, Clarion County, investigators said.

Her vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and struck the front of a 2004 Mack tri-axle truck driven by Sam Paul Valenti, 41, of Cambria County.

Police said the SUV traveled back into the eastbound lane and ended on the side of the road. Investigators said LaVan was thrown out of her vehicle. She was not wearing a seat belt.

Robert LaVan, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to ACMH Hospital in East Franklin Township with minor to moderate injuries, authorities said.

Valenti’s truck caught fire after the collision.

Neither Valenti nor Crawford, who crashed after swerving to avoid the wreck, were hurt.

The crash closed the road for about five hours to allow crews to clean up the wreckage and police to investigate the accident.