CAUGHT ON CAMERA: ‘Alert’ motorists avert tragedy when tires fly off semi truck
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (TMX) — Authorities in Oklahoma say alert and quick-thinking drivers averted potential tragedy when a set of dual tires flew off a semi-truck and into traffic this week.
Dramatic video shared by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) shows Lt. Mark Southall following a semi truck “that appeared to be having a mechanical issue” on the Turner Turnpike near Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
“He saw smoke and vibration coming from one of the trailer’s rear axles and initiated a traffic stop to alert the driver,” OHP said.
The video shows the truck driver pulling over to the shoulder as a set of dual tires flies off the trailer. One tire and wheel bounces into traffic, striking a black SUV, which immediately stops. The other tire and wheel rolled into the grass, where the wheel’s heat sparked “two small grass fires.”
The driver of the black SUV is then seen driving forward, pushing the tire across lanes of traffic to the shoulder. OHP said that driver “intentionally pushed the tire out of the roadway.”
“His actions may have saved a life,” OHP said. “He moved the tire out of the roadway allowing traffic to flow again. Anytime traffic on the turnpike is stopped, it’s dangerous. His quick thinking prevented traffic from backing up further allowing those stopped motorist to begin driving again.”
Several other good Samaritans, meanwhile, stopped to help extinguish the grass fires and prevent them from spreading. OHP said Size and Weights troopers met with the driver of the semi for “further inspection.”
“We’re very thankful this situation wasn’t worse,” OHP said. “Incidents like this can often result in serious injuries or fatalities. However, the alertness of the drivers and the actions taken as the situation unfolded prevented that outcome. Thank you to the good samaritans who stopped to help, thank you to the attentive drivers, and thank you to the driver who moved the tire and vehicle off the interstate. Your actions may have saved a life.”