Kerrville, TX — A man was severely injured after a flying tire crashed through the windshield of his Jeep on Interstate 10 between Kerrville and Comfort, Texas, on Friday, October 10, 2014. The accident happened around 1:45 in the afternoon.
Police are saying that a flatbed trailer suffered a “catastrophic failure” in which a wheel, along with its lug nuts and hub, completely detached from a trailer’s axle and bounced into oncoming traffic, where it hit a passing Jeep. The wheel shattered the vehicle’s windshield and tore off part of the roof.
The victim, who hasn’t been identified, suffered head and face trauma. Considering the damage done to his vehicle, police are saying he’s lucky to be alive.
Police are still looking for the driver. They believe the owner of the trailer the tire came from was unaware of the accident when it occurred. They’re asking anyone with any information to call 830-258-5700.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
Finding out who’s responsible for this accident is really going to come down to a question of maintenance. Who’s responsible for the truck? It was hauling a trailer. Was it a commercial vehicle? If so, a trucking company may be found responsible. If the truck was owned by an individual, it’s possible that he alone would be liable for the accident. It’s also possible that this could be a defect in the trailer itself, and the manufacturer would bear liability. Unfortunately, police will need to locate the trailer before they’re able to move forward. In situations like this independent investigations can prove invaluable.
— Grossman Law Offices
