It was a freak accident that, fortunately, did not injure anyone.
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP officers were dispatched Tuesday shortly after 7:30 a.m. to a report of an accident on Highway 97 near Bailey Road.
“The driver reported that his car was in a motor vehicle accident where a tire came off an oncoming pick-up truck and struck the front end of his car,” said RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
Officers attended the scene and spoke to the 26-year-old driver from Lake Country and his male passenger from Kelowna.
The driver of the truck, a 37-year-old Coldstream resident, and his passenger, a Vernon resident, all confirmed that the truck was southbound when the left rear tire came off and rolled into the path of the oncoming car at highway speed striking the right front corner.
“Our officers confirmed that everyone involved in both vehicles were very lucky and OK,” said Molendyk. “The car was badly damaged to the front end. The truck only suffered minor damage to the brake drum as it dragged along the road when it came to a stop.”
The driver of the truck told officers that he had just recently changed his tires.
“This is a good reminder that when you have your tires changed to have them torqued properly, and have them rechecked within the first 100 to 150 kilometres of driving,” said Molendyk.
The driver of the truck was issued a violation ticket for a defective vehicle.
