Runaway Wheel Critically Injures Driver On I-80 In Pinole: CHP

PINOLE, CA — A runaway wheel caused a multiple-car collision Monday on Interstate Highway 80 in Pinole, leaving one person critically injured, the California Highway Patrol said.

In the incident reported at 12:40 p.m. Monday on westbound I-80 near Appian Way, CHP investigators believe the wheel came off a black Chevrolet Tahoe and flew into the eastbound lanes.

As the wheel continued traveling at freeway speeds, it hit an Audi Q5 in the eastbound carpool lane.

The tire then bounced back over into westbound lanes where it hit the windshield of a Kia SUV, causing the windshield to cave in, the CHP said.

The female driver of the Kia was found in critical condition and was taken to a hospital.

The two left lanes of westbound I-80 were closed for about 45 minutes.

Investigators were still trying to determine why the wheel came off the Tahoe; the CHP asked anyone with information about the incident to call the Oakland CHP Office at 510-457-2875.