Separated Tire Tread and Seat Belt Most Likely to Blame

A separated tire tread is likely to blame for a midnight rollover crash that shut down a portion of McDowell Road in Phoenix for hours. According to Phoenix police, Howard Wilson Laporte, 64, was driving west in his 1999 Mercury Mountaineer when the tread on one of the rear tires separated. The tire did not blow out, but Laporte hit the brakes, overcorrecting, and causing the Mountaineer to veer into the side of the mountain and flip. Laporte was not wearing his seat belt and was thrown from the SUV when it flipped. Westbound lanes of McDowell Road were closed between 52nd Street and Galvin Parkway while police conducted the on-scene portion of their investigation. Crews cleaned up the debris from the crash and reopened the road shortly before 7:30 a.m.

Nurses on the Scene of Tire Tread Accident

“Three nurses happened to drive up on the scene and administered first aid,” according to Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson. The nurses were not able to save Laporte. Investigators are working to determine if impairment or speed played a factor in the wreck.

Tire Tread

Numerous factors can cause tire tread separation, including a manufacturer’s defect, over-inflation, careless driving, an improperly repaired flat, and excessive tire wear. Drivers should ensure their car tires are properly maintained.

Importance of Wearing a Seat Belt

This crash serves as a reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt. Though seat belt use has increased – averaging 88 percent nationally – there are still groups less likely to wear seat belts. These include teens, commercial driver and males in rural areas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury. The act of wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent.

If you’ve suffered from a separated tire tread accident, you need the expert advice of motor vehicle accident attorneys such as those at Personal Injury Attorneys PLLC.

Source: AZ Family, Separated tire tread triggers deadly rollover crash, April 28, 2014

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