So we're traveling north on 77 today just south of Statesville, when my husband shouts "OMG, hold on!" I look up just in time to see a tire from a semi truck literally flying through the air and heading straight for us. My husband veers off to the berm, but to no avail. This tire hits us dead on! We get off at the next exit (49) where thankfully there was a Camping World. The whole front is dented and the fiberglass has a huge slice right below the drivers side, and the light is gone. Thank goodness the tires are fine and it's a DP so no damage to engine. The impact was so intense, though, that it loosened the windshield and now we're camping at Camping World for the night until that can be repaired in the morning.
Everyone here at CW has been great! Jeff Greeno is the only name we've gotten so far and he's been amazing. When I think how much more serious this could have been, I shutter. If this tire had hit the windshield, I'm afraid my husband would have lost control. And I'm actually relieved it hit us and not a car! I think they would have been killed.
I've head about semi tires coming off, but this is definitely a first time actually witnessing it. I'm just so thankful that we are o.k and for the help at Camping World.
Was it the tread that came off, or the whole wheel?
If a semi's trailer is passing you and you hear a tire thumping as it rotates, give that guy a lot of room. Chances are good a recapped tire is getting ready to throw some tread.
* This post was
edited 07/07/08 06:33pm by davemittan *
I am so glad you were not injured, and I hope your rig can be repaired in a timely manner. I always worry when I'm around the semis', but it can happen with any type vehicle.
I have been hit by a semi tire including rim white towing a 17' Sunline TT with a '99 GMC Jimmy, we were REAL lucky that it didn't come in the windshield. Truck was in shop 400 miles from home, almost a month before we got it back. That night was a real fiasco.
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Did you report this? Did they say anything about you leaving the scene of an accident? Glad you are ok. We (the company I was working for)had a front wheel and tire come off a 12 yard dump truck and didn't stop till it went off the right of way and thru the wall of a metal building where a driving school was holding a class. Thanfully no one was hit or injured by it.
When we were heading down to HHI back a few years ago in a car.. We were heading down 77 I think.. My wife and I were really kind of surprised at how fast some fo the trucks run through the hills. We even watched one trailer lift off the right side tires.
Anyways.. we were probably 100 feet behind a rig when all of a sudden we hear a huge explosion and see a complete tread heading for us. Luckily we dodged it, but I don't think the truck even realized he lost that tire for some time.
I witnessed a terrible accident caused by the retread coming off a semi. The truck driver probably never even knew what happened. The retread flew off hitting an elderly driver. The elderly driver swerved into oncoming traffic and hit another car. That car hit a bread van which in turn hit a small car. The small car flipped. The driver of that car and her two little kids were killed. It was horrible! My opinion is that what ever is saved on retreads is not worth the cost of even ONE life!
A friend of mine was injured and his truck totalled by a semi retread coming off and hitting his truck. They can be very dangerous. You're lucky you weren't hurt.
I too am glad you're okay. I see people all the time, driving in the left lane, just running right along side a semi, not passing him, just driving there. I always think of the danger that driver and his passengers are in. When I pass a semi, I make as short of work of it as possible. Those tires coming apart are a common occurance, and they have big time pressure on them.
Sounds like the tire and rim came off which is a whole different ballgame that a recap seperating. And I as a retired Teamster agree with each and everyone of you. The recapping business should be put out of business. Caps are killers in hot climates, but can even come apart in cold climates. Recaps should not be allowed on vehicles involved in interstate commerce. But I doubt we will ever see it happen. To many palms ..... ......, Oh, don't think I can say that.
We had the same thing happen to us several years ago, but we were in a full size car, a Buick Park Ave, and it totaled the car. When the air bags went off it did a lot of damage to the dash Etc. But we were OK.
In ours the complete inflated tire and wheel came off the truck, several lugs had been missing for a while, per the CHP, the truck driver was sited, and State Farm took care of us.
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