PA turnpike near Breezewood lost set of tandem wheels hits car

Freak me out too, saw a single kill 2 bikers W of Tuscon in the 70s one morning. Still see it like it was yesterday.

 

Hi Ike,

As Chrome dome pointed out, the responding police or investigators should be taking up this issue as well as an insurance investigator. However if you aren't getting anywhere, you might ask a lawyer to help out with getting a local DA involved. Many businesses won't help out unless they get a subpeona compelling them to assist with any information. But the tires are actually a good start with the DOT numbers.

 

First, I'm really, really sorry to hear you were in that accident. I hope you make a fully recovery quicker than the doctors are estimating.

I second (or third, or fourth) anyone who mentions checking all the truck and trailer repair shops within 200 miles. Start on the Interstates, move to the highways. Or, hire someone to do it for you.

Have you considered contacting the local news stations? I don't know how they are where you live, but out here (Oregon), your story would be a huge human interest piece. It might pull someone out of the woodwork who saw what happened, but was either unable or unwilling to stop, or who wasn't sure who report what they found.

For us drivers, it usually means that the story will paint many of us as unsafe, but if whoever was hauling that trailer knew the tandems came off and didn't stop, that's exactly the sort of driver they are.

 

if you ever lost a set like that at night maybe empty i garantee you ,you wouldnt know it untill you stopped. it happens doesnt mean he is a moron, but he is a moron if he finds out it hurt someone and doesnt do anything about it!

 

They may know they lost the wheels, but still not know anyone was hurt.

 

Mark, it is a common practice to move steer tires to a trailer after they are worn to about 50% the reason for this is you want good traction on your steering tires, many drivers will do this then run the tires down further, I seriously doubt the type of tire had anything to do with the set of duals coming off and hitting you.

What causes that is when a driver does not check the oil level in his hubs and the bearings come apart allowing the set of duals to leave the axle.

Your best bet is the toll booth cameras, and checking with shops in the area.

Also an inspection of the inside of the hub, see if the bearings and seal are still present, or if it looks as though everything melted apart.

The reason for this is, if some one did not put the bearing assembly in right it would eventually work its way loose. If they just did not check the oil it will be melted down, if it was not reasembeled right, and a shop did the work, they are also liable.

 

Ike,

Sorry to hear of your terrible misfortune. I have traveled 76/70 for 34 years and know the area, being from the Pittsburgh area. Speedy recovery, and better medical supervision (avoid infection).
BTW, we may have previously "spoken" as I frequently fly thru the Va area and still contact Leesburg flight center, all the time.

 

I work in a truck stop repair shop. When a single wheel comes off, it's usually due to loose lug nuts. When a set of dual tires come off together, it's more difficult to nail down the cause. The most likely scenario I've come up with reading all the responses is as follows.... The trl recently had some sort of wheel end repair done. Most likely a wheel seal. The tech was probably inexperienced (or the trl axle had spindle damage that was overlooked) and the axle nut was not installed properly or torqued to proper specs. The axle nut is a locking nut that secures the hub to the spindle. When the locking ring of the nut is torqued improperly it will come off and then the wheels come off as one complete unit. That's my theory. I would definately check with the TA in Breezewood. They would be the most logical repair option. If the driver was headed EB, try Youngstown TA. TA's are helpful. Just my opinion.