A trucking company and its driver are facing several charges after a transport lost two wheels on Highway 11 in northern Ontario last week. A patrol officer saw the wheels fly across the highway in Mattice-Val Cote around 5:30 p.m. May 12, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Tuesday. “The officer conducted a traffic stop and quickly extinguished a small fire that had started,” OPP said.“Upon inspection, it was determined that the front axle hub on the trailer’s passenger side had suffered a complete failure, resulting in the fire and wheel separation.” As a result, the 27-year-old Brampton driver was charged with driving a commercial vehicle with a major defect and with a part detached, failing to accurately complete a daily inspection report, wheel separation and having no name on a commercial vehicle. The Mississauga trucking company is also charged with wheel separation of a commercial vehicle, driving a commercial vehicle with a part detached and failing to ensure performance standards are met. “The OPP reminds all commercial vehicle operators to conduct thorough daily inspections and promptly address any safety defects. Incidents involving wheel detachment or vehicle defects pose serious risks to all road users,” police said. “Members of the public are encouraged to report unsafe vehicles or hazardous driving behavior to the OPP by calling 1-888-310-1122 or in emergencies 911.” The driver is scheduled to appear in provincial offences court in Hearst on July 15.
