Innisfil man dies in Hwy. 400 crash involving flying wheel

An Innisfil man has died after he was struck by an airborne wheel on northbound Highway 400 in Barrie earlier Monday, OPP Sgt. Dave Woodford says.

The crash happened around 11 a.m. at Duckworth Street.

Ontario Provincial Police say the northbound lanes were closed at Bayfield Street for the investigation, but reopened just before 3 p.m.

Woodford said a front wheel came off a black Nissan Murano travelling southbound on the 400 and crossed into the northbound lanes, where it hit the windshield of a van.

“Really, it happened so quick,” he said. “It just comes off and over it goes. It starts bouncing and picks up momentum every bounce it hits. And when it comes down it’s just like a rock hitting that windshield.”

The van’s driver was rushed to hospital without vital signs, and he was pronounced dead in hospital. Two girls in the van survived.

Police are still trying to figure out how the tire separated from the SUV.

Woodford recommended that drivers get into the habit of making regular checks of their vehicles before heading out, “just like a tractor-trailer driver. They’re doing that circle check, making sure the vehicle is safe before they head out.”

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