Dislodged truck tire kills QEII driver in ‘freak accident’

Police are asking the public for help after a 54-year-old motorist was killed by a tire from a passing truck Sunday on the QEII Highway.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that a large tire, consistent with one used on a semi-trailer, may have dislodged from a southbound vehicle and struck the driver of the northbound vehicle,” Ponoka RCMP Sgt. Chris Smiley said in a news release Monday. “Following this, the driver was fatally injured and lost control of the vehicle.”

STRUCK GUARD RAIL

The slain driver’s vehicle struck a guard rail, where it stopped, Smiley said. The incident happened about 6:50 p.m.

A female passenger sustained minor injuries and was treated and released, the release said.

The incident happened near where Highway 53 crosses the QEII Highway, west of Ponoka, 106 km south of Edmonton.

“This appears to be a very tragic, unexpected, freak incident,” Smiley said. “We want to speak to anyone who might know anything in order to bring some closure to this investigation, both from an investigational perspective and for the family’s sake.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or at www.tipsubmit.com,