Do you think you could’ve spotted this rolling tire and dodged it, unlike the dashcam owner?
Presumed Tennessee resident and Redditor /u/MasterGuy29 shared dashcam footage to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing the shocking moment on US 11 when a rolling tire seemingly came out of nowhere and slammed into the front of his car.
/u/MasterGuy29’s thread and video is posted below.
Lack of awareness, I’m an idiot [oc]
byu/Masterguy29 inIdiotsInCars
As mentioned, this accident happened in Chattanooga on Highway 11 (exact location on Google Maps linked here, with a screenshot of the area below.)
As OP’s video shows, he’s travelling in the fast lane of US 11.
His dashcam says he’s going about 80 MPH.
The speed limit in this area is 65 MPH so, technically, OP is speeding.
In the near distance, he can see cars braking, but he doesn’t know why.
As evidenced by his dashcam, OP doesn’t slow down.
All of a sudden, a tire with wheel appears within the view of his headlights, but by the time he sees it, it’s too late.
OP crashes into the wheel at speed, slows, and thankfully only his car takes the brunt of the damage.
OP admits in his thread even he doesn’t know where the tire came from.
” I have no idea where the tire came from. None of the cars in the video seem to be missing one.”
However, one Redditor points out that a truck towing a car hauler with multiple cars is the likely culprit.
“It probably came off the trailer being pulled by the truck that was on the far right shoulder with its hazards on,” /u/WhtChcltWarrior replies.
“The tire was still rolling when you hit it, so I assume it came off the trailer, the truck pulled over while the tire kept rolling down the road at a slower speed, then you hit it around the time it caught up to the truck and before the truck driver could retrieve it.”
OP confirms in the comments that his car was totaled by his insurance.
I watched the video again and, quite honestly, besides probably driving at a tingle slower speed, I don’t think I could’ve avoided the rolling tire and wheel either.
It’s an opinion many in the thread share, although there are a few comments saying otherwise.
“Even knowing it was coming, I couldn’t see it soon enough to do anything about it,” /u/PooferFeesh97 replies.
“Your only fault was not lifting off throttle when you saw the flock of brake lights,/u/Markoff_Cheney adds.
Do you think you could’ve avoided that wheel and tire?
How would you have handled this situation?
Let me know your .02 in the comments below.
And as for you independent car haulers, this is your reminder to check your trailer tires, ASAP and regularly.
He was hit by a red tire?