Video: When your number is up - it's up. Motorcyclist killed by loose truck wheel.

[todlad]

Initially posted this contribution in the wrong thread: thanks to DarkSideDog for correcting the error of my ways.

I did a very simple search for accidents in a country far far away that might be similar to this one. This is the list on page one of a site I found and I took the entire list even though it dates back to 2000:

 

Flying tractor-trailer wheel caused fatal accident on 417, Fatal collision (Friday, February 10, 2017)

Flying tire hits vehicle injuring occupant on Highway 401 By David Shum Global News (July 4, 2016)

Two wheels flew off a garbage truck near Ingersoll Wednesday morning, adding to a spike in wheel separations. By Megan Stacey, Woodstock Sentinel-Review (April 13, 2016)

Oxford OPP respond to another incident of wheel detaching from truck and striking vehicle on Highway 401. By Megan Stacey, Woodstock Sentinel-Review (February 16, 2016)

Wheel-Check Safety Campaign (February 10, 2016)

Man killed by flying truck tire on Highway 400 ID’d as former construction CEO

By Will Campbell Global News (January 29, 2016)

Wheel breaks off pickup truck, kills motorist in Lexington

The Associated Press Published: January 27, 2016, 7:26 am

Wheel flies off truck, strikes another car near Vaughan. Kendra Mangione, CTVNews.ca Writer (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)

HIGHWAY 401: Fly-away truck wheel strikes Ministry of Transportation vehicles at Putnam inspection station on Highway 401. By Dale Carruthers, The London Free Press.

(Monday, November 23, 2015)

FATALITY: Transportation critic wants more done to make highways safer from flying truck wheels. By Jennifer O'Brien, The London Free Press (Monday, November 9, 2015)

Truck tire hits oncoming car, kills driver on Highway 401 near Putnam. CTV London (Published Friday, November 6, 2015)

Flying wheel from truck in Mississauga causes woman's death

Brampton, Ont., resident Diane Tsialtas was struck Friday while walking on Meadowvale Boulevard (CBC News, Sep 19, 2015)

Flying tire crashes through car windshield, kills 23-year-old Independence man.

FOX4 News (July 8, 2015, by Robert Townsend)

Maintenance: Wheel-Check Loose Nut Indicator (Government Fleet, Managing Public Sector Vehicles and Equipment. June 23, 2015) - Products

Checked Your Lug Nuts Lately? Work Truck Magazine. Checking the lug nuts on a commercial motor vehicle should be a part of a Daily Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR). Indicators of a loose lug nut could be shiny metal or new rust. If the lug nut is less than hand-tight, the rim could come off.

No injuries from flying bus tire on the Gardiner (01/24/2015) Toronto Sun, By Chris Doucette

This Video Is Why People Are Terrified To Drive On The Highway. The Huffington Post Canad, By Michael Bolen (01/15/2015)

DRIVING: It's a busy season for flying tires (12/10/14) The Hamilton Spectator, By Molly Hayes

WATCH: Runaway Truck Tire Crashes Through Window, Sends Man Flying (12/20/14) Fox News Insider. A janitor at a Texas medical clinic is lucky to be alive after a freak accident.

Driver whose truck lost a tire in fatal Route 28 crash did not have valid license, police say (11/21/2014) By Madasyn Czebiniak and Jon Schmitz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Flying truck tire renews outrage (11/12/2014) Toronto Star. By: Alyshah Hasham Jennifer Pagliaro and Wendy Gillis, Published on 12/22/2011. The death of a 53-year-old woman on the QEW from a stray truck tire on Thursday is raising questions about the wisdom of closing truck inspection sites.

Grad student killed when semitractor's wheel smashes into car on California highway (11/10/2014)

Reviews of Lug Nut Torque Indicators by Truck Drivers

Wheel comes loose, crosses interstate, causes accident (10/20/2014) Wyandotte Daily, Kansas

Man killed on I-95 when wheel crashes into windshield (09/20/2014)

Police seize tractor-trailer that may have lost tires in deadly I-79 crash. Police: Tractor-trailer tires fell off and hit SUV in Aleppo Township (09/16/2014)

Wheel separation incidents can prove deadly; NTSB doesn't track them (09/15/2014) By Tom Fontaine

Mississauga News, Flying Truck tire hits Car (06/06/2014)

Update: Bouncing Wheel Accident Could Have Been Prevented (04/04/2014)

Pair of semi wheels fly loose, crash through SD house. (03/05/2014) By Ben Grove

Man changing tire killed by loose truck wheel (02/07/2014)

Wheel Separations (MEA FORENSIC) By Mark Bailey, MSc, PEng, PE

Truck loses tire, deadly New Hampshire truck accident (10/16/2013) Written by Mike Leizerman

Truck wheel bounces off police cruiser, strikes car, kills driver in NH (09/18/2013)

Teenagers Killed When Truck's Wheels Crash Through Windshield (06/22/2013)

Loose tires fly off truck, nearly hit two people in Hosmer (05/13/2013)

Woman killed by flying tire ‘had nowhere to go’. (April 26, 2013) AJC News. By Alexis Stevens, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Motorist Hit by Flying Tractor-Trailer Tire on Long Island Expressway. (April 24, 2013) By Greg Cergol NBC New York News4

Flying truck tires slam two cars on Oakville QEW(11/28/2012) Hamilton Spectator

Woman Killed by Flying Tire on QEW (10/15/2012)

Shaping Up Collection...Collection and transfer vehicles must stand up to harsh climates and rough use. Keeping them safe and efficient requires the correct choice of tires, suspension, and brakes. (04/23/2012) By Lori Lovely, MSW Management

Port Authority: Over-Tightening To Blame For Bus Losing Tires (02/27/2012)

Flying semi wheels smash through man's home. Toronto Sun. Jenna McMurray, QMI Agency (02/16/2012)

Deaths from stray transport truck wheels renew calls for heightened vigilance (12/23/2011)

Police searching for truck after Hamilton woman killed by flying tractor-trailer tire on the QEW (12/22/2011) National Post. By Nida Siddiqui.

Woman dies after truck tire smashes car (12/22/2011)

Truck tires fly off, kill young dad on Hwy. 401 (12/13/2011)

Loose truck wheel rips roof off car (11/03/2011)

Garbage truck loses wheels, triggers multi-car crash (04/20/2010)

Safety for Cents? (04/26/2009)

Driver killed by Flying Truck Tire on I-95 (08/15/2008)

Could a 65 Cent Piece of Plastic Have Saved Two Students' Lives? (NBC News) (02/27/2008)

Man Charged After Loose Truck Wheel Smashes Vans (01/04/2008)

Bus company installs devices to detect loose lug nuts (11/18/07)

Tire came from Michigan Truck (11/13/07)

Tires Killed 7 this Year (11/10/07)

Semi loses wheels, killing Shelbyville cop on I-74 (10/12/07)

1 Dead in I-5 Accident Involving Loose Wheels (05/11/07)

Fung Wah Trouble? Gee, You Don't Say!(January 2007)

Bouncing tire kills woman on Ontario's QEW (9/15/06)

Walter Forensics Engineering: Truck Tire/Wheel Separations (2006)

$874,000 Awarded for Man Hit by Tire (2004)

Flying truck wheels crush woman in Clarington. Truck was on route from Cobourg to Brampton. (11/21/2003)

MTA Official Resigns Amid Safety Failures (6/28/2002)

Probe Intensifies as Wheels Fall Off an 18th MTA Bus (6/13/2002)

Inside the NO. 15 Bus: A Jolt, then Confusion (6/03/2002)

17th Bus Loses Wheels; MTA Chief on Leave (6/02/2002)

White Removed from Investigation of MTA Bus Wheels (6/1/2002)

Loose Wheels Trouble MTA Officials (5/27/2002)

Runaway Bus Wheels Imperil Public (5/26/2002)

Trucker in Fatal Wheel-Loss Crash Likely to be Charged (10/2000)

Tire does wheelie down Hwy 401 (8/19/2000)

Wheels: Make Sure Things Match (8/2000)

Tighten 'Em Right (8/2000)

Trucking Safety Regulators Need More Resources (6/16/2000)

"Over tightening stretches the studs..." (3/2000)

Section 392.7 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (3/2000)

Blitz Snares Unsafe Trucks (2/1/2000)

Large Truck Statistics(1/2000)

Police Target Reckless Truckers (1/31/2000)

 

Take a look here if you wish http://www.wheel-check.com/archive.html

 

As always, I am not a Thai apologist and I agree that the two trucks involved have seen better days. The driver of the killing machine, however, didn't seem to sound his horn nor take any evasive action at all. He should be imprisoned for what he has done

[balo]

What could have saved her ?  After watching the video several times , maybe nothing. But when I am on the roads I drive in the left lane , then she would have had time to see the wheel and maybe save herself .  In the right lane she had no chance .  

 

Edited December 10, 2017 by balo

[impulse]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I ride a bike a lot and it isn't really economic realities,  more practicalities.

Tragic when the economic situation forces a whole family on a bike and something bad happens.

 

Agreed, to a point.  I take motosai taxis every day, too.  And agree with you that it's a matter of practicalities.  I have done the math, and I save enough time on a motosai to more than compensate for the statistical lifespan I lose by the increase in risk.  It's something like a one in 10 million chance of getting killed on a motosai getting to the store, vs a 1 in 200 million chance if I take the pickup.  And I save 10-15 minutes on a motosai over firing up the diesel, fighting the one-way streets, finding a place to park, then doing it all again to get back home.

 

But even those "practicalities" are driven by the economics of crappy, insufficient roads, and bent cops who are too busy paying for their next promotion to actually enforce the laws.  I survived my first 54 years without ever once feeling the need to get on a scooter to save time.  But that wasn't in Thailand.

 

More than anything, I'm on a futile, one man crusade to get people to think about their transportation choices, with the realization that there are risks associated with the convenience.  And getting on a scooter is 2000-4000% more dangerous than hopping in a car.  And wearing a helmet only takes it from (for example) 4000% more dangerous to 2400% more dangerous. 

 

I'm not passing judgment on anyone's choice, since I go either way depending on the situation.  But I do take exception to a lot of the "logic" that's spouted, leading some to believe that wearing a helmet or riding skillfully are some kind of panacea.  Neither would have saved this poor lady.  4 wheels, a windshield, a steering wheel and an airbag, and she'd probably be having dinner with her loved ones tonight.

 

[BradWilkins]

RIP 

[Skeptic7]

This could happen anywhere...and has to me twice! First time about 30 years ago...was strolling along a major thoroughfare in Beverly Hills, CA when heard a loud screeching. Looking towards the sound, saw a pickup truck coming to a halt and it's rather large back tire bounding down the road at a high rate of speed in my direction! Having plenty of time, made sure I was well out of it's path and watched at close range as it skipped off the road, onto the sidewalk and smashed thru a large plate glass store front. Would have been deadly if it struck anyone. Fortunately it was a Sunday and the store was closed.

 

Second time about 20 years ago in Atlanta, GA. Had my oil changed and tires rotated. Leaving afterwards, drove about 20 yards and knew something was extremely amiss. One of the rear tires had the lug nuts in place, but hadn't been tightened! Easy to notice with only 4 tires.

 

From the video, the driver had no clue (at the time) that one of 16-22 wheels had come off this heavy load vehicle. The loss of one tire in the rear section of twin tires...4 to an axle...would not be noticed. 

 

Also, it's doubtful the driver does the truck maintenance...so not only was he unaware, he is most likely not responsible for the negligence.

 

Sad for the victim and her loved ones, but hardly the driver's fault. Fleeing after being informed, while inexcusable, doesn't make him responsible for this poor girl's death.

 

 

Edited December 10, 2017 by Skeptic7

[Lumbini]

Ride a motorcycle on the road in any country and your number will come up fast as in " lightspeed "

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[StevieAus]

On 12/9/2017 at 8:22 PM, crazygreg44 said:

Actually there are several more answers to this phenomena.  One is that they rely on other traffic participants to watch out for themselves, so they can't be dared to check.  The other is,  in many cases there is a one meter stretch of a motorcycle lane from the curb to the first white line, and they rely on this lane being solely reserved for them. Then another answer is, they rely on their amulet and "fate doesn't have it for me today". Quite another is, if a car hits them, then it isn't their fault because the unwritten Thai law that the bigger cars have to watch out for motorcycles.

 

Daydreaming or being inattentive because busy with ice cream in one hand and a smartphone in the other . . well, the list goes on

Yes , very very interesting and the other reason is that they have probably never been taught the correct way to ride a motorcycle, I was over 50 years ago and have never forgotten.

[ClutchClark]

1 minute ago, StevieAus said:

Yes , very very interesting and the other reason is that they have probably never been taught the correct way to ride a motorcycle, I was over 50 years ago and have never forgotten.

 

Asa lifetime motorcycle rider I do relate to what you are saying about a "correct way to ride"; however, if I were to attempt that here in LOS I would be roadkill within minutes. 

 

The concept of a lane of traffic belonging to a single vehicle is not part of the Thai practice. 

 

I rode up around Chang Rai about 8 years ago. The best part was there was almost no vehicular traffic. 

 

 

[Mansell]

The best chance the lady had if she even saw the wheel was to have ducked........maybe our friend on here with the awareness of an eagle might have been able to do that also. But the wheel came through the bushes and you would have had maybe a second to process what you were seeing, and then react.

When it's your time it is your time. Reminds me of the New York guy riding to protest mandatory helmet wear and not wearing a helmet. He lost control of his bike and crashed and was killed because of no helmet. I am guessing that the last thing that went through his head before it hit the ground was, "Shit. I should have worn the helmet. What a dumb <deleted> I............" Bye Bye.

[Mansell]

6 hours ago, Lumbini said:

Ride a motorcycle on the road in any country and your number will come up fast as in " lightspeed "

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

Thank you God......and somebody who has never ridden a motorcycle. 

[Anthony Loh]

Feel so sorry to the female motorist, R.I.P. Is very difficult to avoid in this case no matter how careful we are. We should have keep in the most left lane as the Thai law said unless we are making a U- turn or need to turn right. Unfortunately so many motorists like to use the fast right land.

Of cost, if the time is end to said “ Good Bye “, we can’t do anything. Is the truck driver problem who coursed her death as all driver must ensure nothing can fall or come out from the vehicle to ensure others safety when you are driving.

[Russell17au]

This poor girl did not stand a chance of avoiding that wheel as some super humans have claimed on here. The simple facts are that the CCTV is viewed from high above the incident which is not the line of sight that this poor girl had and in the video it took the wheel 3 seconds from leaving the trailer to contacting that poor girl. One second of that the wheel would not have been in the girls sight as there is shrubbery growing on the centre strip. The girl would not see the wheel until it became airborne after hitting the curbing. That gave the girl 2 seconds to see the wheel and react, it is a medical fact that the average reaction time for a human is .55 of a second which now left the girl with 1.05 seconds to get over the shock reaction and to take any avoiding action. Anyone who claims that they can get over the shock reaction and then think about what avoiding reaction to take lives in their own little dreamworld and do not live in the real world. This like ALL accidents was caused by negligence by someone. It was negligence by the driver for not checking his wheel nuts because there are 8 or 10 wheel nuts on each wheel depending on the type of hub used, and there is no way that all the wheel nuts would come undone at the same time, if 1 or 2 nuts came loose then the wheel could possibly work on the other studs until they broke but that would not happen in 1 day, so the driver has not checked his wheel nuts. My experience is 45 years driving heavy vehicles plus included in that 45 years is 17 years as a volunteer in The Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Squad removing dead and injured from road accidents and including in that 17 years working with the New South Wales Police Accident Investigation Squad in Australia investigating the causes of accidents and every accident always comes down to someone being negligent in some way

[Russell17au]

18 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

This could happen anywhere...and has to me twice! First time about 30 years ago...was strolling along a major thoroughfare in Beverly Hills, CA when heard a loud screeching. Looking towards the sound, saw a pickup truck coming to a halt and it's rather large back tire bounding down the road at a high rate of speed in my direction! Having plenty of time, made sure I was well out of it's path and watched at close range as it skipped off the road, onto the sidewalk and smashed thru a large plate glass store front. Would have been deadly if it struck anyone. Fortunately it was a Sunday and the store was closed.

 

Second time about 20 years ago in Atlanta, GA. Had my oil changed and tires rotated. Leaving afterwards, drove about 20 yards and knew something was extremely amiss. One of the rear tires had the lug nuts in place, but hadn't been tightened! Easy to notice with only 4 tires.

 

From the video, the driver had no clue (at the time) that one of 16-22 wheels had come off this heavy load vehicle. The loss of one tire in the rear section of twin tires...4 to an axle...would not be noticed. 

 

Also, it's doubtful the driver does the truck maintenance...so not only was he unaware, he is most likely not responsible for the negligence.

 

Sad for the victim and her loved ones, but hardly the driver's fault. Fleeing after being informed, while inexcusable, doesn't make him responsible for this poor girl's death.

 

 

Drivers responsibility: Check over your vehicle to ensure that everything is correct before you start your engine. Driver negligence.

[tandor]

On ‎12‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 6:29 PM, SiSePuede419 said:

Reason #367 of Why You Might Still Be Alive Today If You Weren't Riding A Danger Machine ?

...hmmm...I reckon if she had have been driving a military tank that wheel could have easily knocked off the turret.

[tandor]

26 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

This poor girl did not stand a chance of avoiding that wheel as some super humans have claimed on here. The simple facts are that the CCTV is viewed from high above the incident which is not the line of sight that this poor girl had and in the video it took the wheel 3 seconds from leaving the trailer to contacting that poor girl. One second of that the wheel would not have been in the girls sight as there is shrubbery growing on the centre strip. The girl would not see the wheel until it became airborne after hitting the curbing. That gave the girl 2 seconds to see the wheel and react, it is a medical fact that the average reaction time for a human is .55 of a second which now left the girl with 1.05 seconds to get over the shock reaction and to take any avoiding action. Anyone who claims that they can get over the shock reaction and then think about what avoiding reaction to take lives in their own little dreamworld and do not live in the real world. This like ALL accidents was caused by negligence by someone. It was negligence by the driver for not checking his wheel nuts because there are 8 or 10 wheel nuts on each wheel depending on the type of hub used, and there is no way that all the wheel nuts would come undone at the same time, if 1 or 2 nuts came loose then the wheel could possibly work on the other studs until they broke but that would not happen in 1 day, so the driver has not checked his wheel nuts. My experience is 45 years driving heavy vehicles plus included in that 45 years is 17 years as a volunteer in The Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Squad removing dead and injured from road accidents and including in that 17 years working with the New South Wales Police Accident Investigation Squad in Australia investigating the causes of accidents and every accident always comes down to someone being negligent in some way

..my sentiments exactly.

[atyclb]

On 12/10/2017 at 12:25 PM, jacko45k said:

Tyre is shorter.

 

 

its just high school physics

[StevieAus]

8 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

 

Asa lifetime motorcycle rider I do relate to what you are saying about a "correct way to ride"; however, if I were to attempt that here in LOS I would be roadkill within minutes. 

 

The concept of a lane of traffic belonging to a single vehicle is not part of the Thai practice. 

 

I rode up around Chang Rai about 8 years ago. The best part was there was almost no vehicular traffic. 

 

 

“Correct” was probably the wrong word to use but I agree totally with what you are saying and it’s for that reason I hardly ride at all now and only locally which is bad enough with the young underage irresponsible riders.

I stick to four wheels which is a challenge in itself trying to anticipate what the other drivers will do next but there less chance of ending up as you appropriately describe above.

[tifino]

 

Was this video one of the illuminating reasons why motorcycles are now banned from the Right Lane?

 

She would have still  been alive in the Left, as it would have bounced behind her...

[lvr181]

49 minutes ago, tifino said:

 

Was this video one of the illuminating reasons why motorcycles are now banned from the Right Lane?

 

She would have still  been alive in the Left, as it would have bounced behind her...

And perhaps carried on it's trajectory to strike another in the Left lane? 

[tifino]

Just now, lvr181 said:

And perhaps carried on it's trajectory to strike another in the Left lane? 

yeah ! the pedestrian was next in line for the out of line roller

 

 -  the rider probably saved their life

[Russell17au]

5 hours ago, tifino said:

 

Was this video one of the illuminating reasons why motorcycles are now banned from the Right Lane?

 

She would have still  been alive in the Left, as it would have bounced behind her...

Have a good look at the video, she is riding in the right hand side of the right lane against the median strip, but I cannot be sure, but it looks like she was slowing down, so maybe she was going to turn through the break in the island. If that is the case then she was in the right place to do that. We will never know unfortunately because of negligence by the truck driver she is now another statistic of Thailand roads. RIP young lady

[SunsetT]

On 09/12/2017 at 3:38 PM, jacko45k said:

The headline is somewhat  glib and I really don't think she had much chance here. It came fast from her right and the other side of the central reservation.

Hard to focus on all the dangers, road ahead, potholes, other vehicles.

 

No, I think the headline is spot on. There can be no clearer example than this that 'when your number is up then your number is  up'. But I do hope that it does all come down to a karmic brownie point bank balance. Also,  whenever my number is up, I hope that Im taken out as instantaneously and painlessly as this lady was.

[toofarnorth]

On Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 12:29 PM, jacko45k said:

I ride a bike a lot and it isn't really economic realities,  more practicalities.

Tragic when the economic situation forces a whole family on a bike and something bad happens.

Agree jacko , I imagine there would be a few more negative comments if this lady had 2 children on the back , I ride a bike for fun it took a few years before my TW realised fun on a bike was possible.  A lot of deaths occur from folk riding scooters , imagine if they all drove cars. If that had been me on the scooter at that point I would be looking in the mirrors as about to turn right and one never knows what the traffic behind could be up to. The last place I would be looking would be up in the air for a UFO.

[steve187]

On 12/9/2017 at 12:20 PM, MadMuhammad said:

Total freak accident 555

not as much an accident, as bad vehicle maintenance 

[MartinBangkok]

On 09/12/2017 at 1:11 PM, cornishcarlos said:

 

I'm not trying to deflect any heat. I wasn't expecting everyone to agree with, which is what makes forums interesting. I'm also not back peddling. Thai driving "skills" suck..

 

Negligence (truck companies), complacency, lack of training, no law enforcement and trust in amulets all contribute to the unacceptable death toll here...

Are you freaking nuts??

 

She had no chance to react. Can't you see that??

[jm91]

8 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

Are you freaking nuts??

 

She had no chance to react. Can't you see that??

Some people, once they make a stupid remark or make a stupid comment (such as somehow the motor cycle driver in this video was either at fault, could have avoided death, or a more careful driver like some of the posters here are much better drivers and could have avoided death) - those people can not under any circumstances admit they are wrong and admit that they made stupid remarks. I think it has to do with their ego or something.

 

The video is tragic..the woman did not have a chance, no one could have avoided being hit by the tire as it was not possible to see it coming..and those who claim they could avoid such a tragedy by being defensive drivers are just being stupid. 

 

Stupid truck driver for not having a safe truck but the poor woman did not have a chance..no one would have. 

[travelling wilbury]

"Brain matter on the road "

Perhaps if she had a PROPER helmet not the common plastic thing thais like she might have survived 

[travelling wilbury]

On 12/9/2017 at 7:44 AM, daoyai said:

she is a victim of negligence, wheels don't just fly off ..... 

Seems they do in thailand 

[lvr181]

11 hours ago, travelling wilbury said:

"Brain matter on the road "

Perhaps if she had a PROPER helmet not the common plastic thing thais like she might have survived 

"Survived" - as a paraplegic probably? From at least a possible broken neck/spine. ?