Wheel falls off vehicle on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa, jumps median and strikes oncoming car

A driver suffered “significant injuries’ after their vehicle was struck by a loose wheel on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa on Friday night. Ontario Provincial Police say a tire came off a vehicle. (OPP/X)

Ontario Provincial Police are reminding drivers to have their tires double torqued after the switch to summer tires after a tire came off a vehicle, jumped the median and struck an oncoming car on Highway 417 in Ottawa.

Emergency crews responded to the call for an incident on the highway Friday night.

“A tire came off a vehicle travelling eastbound and struck a vehicle travelling westbound,” OPP Const. Michael Fathi said on X.

“This resulted in significant injuries to the driver, who was transported to hospital.”

A picture posted on social media showed the front windshield smashed and damaged to the frame of the vehicle at the top of the windshield.

Fathi said a driver has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act sction 84.2 - Driving Unsafe Vehicle for the wheel coming off the vehicle. The fine can rage from $2,000 to $5,000.

“It’s that time of the year again, summer tire season! A reminder from the Ottawa OPP to have your tires double torqued,” Fathi said.

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