Have you ever had an event occur to you or in front of you that makes your heart stop? Your body goes numb and you realize that your mortality is on the line. Especially when you can do nothing to stop it? That’s how a Kia Sol driver felt on March 23rd. A terrifying event occurred on the 118 freeway in Los Angeles. A driver’s life flashed before their eyes when their car was launched into the air by a runaway tire.
Dashcam footage from a Tesla captured a white Chevy pick-up truck loosing its front left tire. As it rolled away, it rolled into the path of an oncoming Kia in the next lane. The tire rolls almost perfectly between the car’s wheels. Physics and momentum align perfectly. The tire rolls under the car and catapults it off the road, soaring at least 10 into the air before crashing back to earth hood first.
The car bounced back onto its wheels, and proceeds to skid a decent stretch before slowing to a stop. As though adding insult to injury, the offending tire comes rolling back into shot, banging into the utterly destroyed Kia. Even after its momentum is halted, the tire refuses to fall, continuing to roll dangerously back into the road.
Thankfully, the driver of the Kia walked away with bumps and bruises. What could have been a fatal accident is now a terrifying day in the life. When your car turns into an aircraft for two terrifying seconds, you’re going to reevaluate a few things.
