When the Road Throws a Curveball
Despite advancements in automotive safety, road crashes remain a prevalent issue. Some, however, happen completely unexpectedly, like this Nissan Rogue that collided with a loose tire that bounced over the median on Interstate 76 in Philadelphia.
The incident was recorded by the external cameras of what appears to be a Tesla Model Y traveling slightly ahead of the Rogue. According to 6abc, it happened around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday near Girard Avenue. While it remains unclear where the tire came from, the impact left the Nissan’s front end badly damaged.
It’s Already Too Late
Looking at the footage, the Nissan Rogue – an outgoing third-generation model – appeared to brake just before the tire entered the frame, though it is unclear whether that was the driver’s input or an automatic emergency-braking activation. Given the limited reaction time and lack of room to avoid the tire, the collision appeared all but unavoidable.
The Tesla owner told the station he heard the impact but did not realize what had happened until he reviewed the footage. Fortunately, the video shows no vehicle closely following the Rogue at the moment of impact.
Incidents in which wheels detach from vehicles are not unheard of. In 2023, a Kia Soul went viral after a wheel came off a Chevrolet Silverado traveling in the adjacent lane on a Los Angeles freeway and struck the Soul, launching it several feet into the air. The Kia landed on its roof before rolling back onto its wheels.
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Save Someone Else’s Day
For motorists in the path of a runaway wheel, such incidents can be extremely difficult to avoid, especially at highway speeds. However, proper wheel installation can help prevent some of them. Lug nuts should be tightened evenly to the manufacturer’s specified torque. Under-tightening can allow them to loosen, while over-tightening can stretch or weaken the wheel studs and potentially cause them to fail.
No official findings have been released regarding the cause of the Nissan Rogue incident. If negligence caused the wheel to detach, the incident could lead to a lawsuit for damages and injuries. Given the extensive damage to the front end and windshield, the compact crossover will likely require costly repairs. Hopefully, no one was seriously hurt.
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