Driver injured in accident involving major tire failure

SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla.— A 40-year-old driver was injured Dec. 28 after a tire failed on a fuel tanker, causing the vehicle to crash into a fence off Interstate 75 in North Port.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the fuel tanker was southbound in the outside lane of I-75 when the accident occurred. The vehicle sustained a “catastrophic failure of a tire” and traveled into a grassy shoulder off the side of the interstate before striking a fence line and overturning in a wooded area.

The driver was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. His identity has not been released.

About 200 gallons of fuel reportedly spilled on the highway during the accident. Foam was seen on the overturned tanker, but officials have not elaborated on whether any fires occurred.

Commentary on tire failure accidents

Tire failure accidents are far too common on our roadways, claiming the lives of many of our citizens. The description of the accident in this report is very similar to another case my firm is currently working on. In that case, a Los Angeles truck driver lost a tire while hauling through Arizona, causing him to lose control, pull into the median, and hit a bridge abutment. Unfortunately, the driver in that case did not survive. I am grateful to learn the driver in this case sustained only minor injuries.

I have been seeing an increasing number of tire blowouts on commercial vehicles over the last several years. I have found the primary cause of these blowouts to be inconsistent tire maintenance and poor road conditions. However, I have worked on an alarming number of tire failures caused by manufacturer flaw or defect. This is concerning because when a defect leads to tire failure, the defect is present in millions of tires of the same design. Uncovering a single defect prevents similar accidents from occurring and saves innocent victims from death and serious injury. 

I hope a speedy recovery for the driver and encourage those involved to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of tire failure. 

Disclaimer: All information contained within this post was compiled from public sources or constitutes the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.