Tire blowout causes fatal accident on I-75 in Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A tire blowout caused a 45-year-old driver to lose control of his vehicle Oct. 7 in a tragic accident that cost him his life.

The identity of the victim has not been released by authorities.

The driver was southbound on I-75 near Big Bend Road in Tampa at about 7 p.m. when the accident occurred, according to a local news article. The tire blow-out caused him to travel into the outside shoulder, where his SUV overturned, collided with a tree, and caught fire.

He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

No additional information about the accident was immediately released.

COMMENTARY ON TIRE DEFECT AND ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS

Another senseless tire failure has led to a fatal rollover crash, tragically cutting the life of an innocent man short. Although his identity is not known, he is certainly not alone. Rollover crashes caused by tire failure are epidemic on our country’s highways. I have represented hundreds of individuals and families in strikingly similar accidents.

When a tire unexpectedly blows out, the vehicle’s response to driver inputs is altered in significant ways, often leading to loss of driver control. This is apparently what happened in this horrific accident when the driver lost control of his SUV.

I am deeply concerned that some automakers fail to adhere to safe engineering and quality material standards that increase the safety of their vehicles, particularly in SUVs. Studies of one particular model indicate that a mere $20.00 investment in higher quality materials and a seemingly simple engineering modification would increase safety by two-to-three times. What an expensive trade-off for the loss of human lives. To learn more about a specific rollover crash with industry-wide safety implications, read my article, “The Making of an Epidemic.”

My heartfelt sympathies go out to the loved ones of this unfortunate crash victim.