Rogue Wheel Crosses Center Divider on I-80; Two Cars Unable to Avoid

A driver who was towing a trailer on westbound I-80 lost a wheel near the Yolo Causeway on Wednesday. When the wheel came loose, it crossed the center divider and caused a wreck that damaged two other vehicles. 

Darwin Joseph Kern, a 33-year-old male from Citrus Heights, was towing a utility trailer with a generator on it, according to California Highway Patrol. 

When the wheel came off, it crossed the westbound lane and bounced over the center divider, into the eastbound lanes of I-80. 

Nathaniel Isaac Taylor Benning, a 21-year-old male from Dixon was driving a 1997 Ford Ranger on eastbound I-80, as well as Lenord James Holder, a 53-year-old male from Vallejo. 

Holder was driving a 1997 Ford F-250 when he observed the flying wheel approaching him.  He veered to the right to avoid a traffic collision, but the wheel collided with the left side of the Ford. 

Benning observed the wheel in the roadway, but was unable to avoid it.  The wheel collided with the right front of the Ford. The traffic collision caused minor damage to the involved vehicles, but there were no injuries reported.