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Toronto Woman Dies After Colliding With Detached Wheel From A Service Van on 401

Writer's picture: Ott's Auto Service BLOGOtt's Auto Service BLOG

Updated: Jan 20


When The Unthinkable Happens
When The Unthinkable Happens

Photo Source: Courtesy CTV


Why Safety Through Regular Vehicle Maintenance Matters


The unfortunate and avoidable death of a Toronto woman prompted all motorists as well as auto service providers to reconsider the causes and effects of potential critical maintenance repairs that have been neglected.


A wheel from a service van traveling west on the 401 came loose, became detached, flew off and bounced over the median, which separates the east and westbound lanes, striking the woman's SUV and causing her to crash into a semi-trailer. This was an unnecessary tragedy. A commercial vehicle, with obvious, questionable road worthiness issues altered the lives of a Toronto family permanently.


Wheels Do Not Fly Off Vehicles For No Reason - It Can Be Avoided


When a wheel falls off a vehicle, especially a heavy one like a truck, it usually points to severe neglect or failure in maintenance. Here are the most common reasons this can happen:


     1. Loose Lug Nuts: If lug nuts aren’t torqued properly, they can gradually loosen due to the vehicle’s vibration. Over time, this can lead to the wheel wobbling and eventually detaching.


     2. Hub or Bearing Failure: Wheel bearings allow the wheel to spin freely while bearing the vehicle’s weight. If they wear out and aren’t replaced, they can fail catastrophically, causing the wheel to separate from the axle.


     3. Rust or Corrosion: Be sure your service advisor checks that your rims are free of rust or corrosion so it seats snuggly against the wheel hub to avoid potential wheel detachment while driving.


     4. Broken or Cracked Wheel Studs: Wheel studs are under constant stress, and if they’re cracked, corroded, or fatigued, they can snap under load, releasing the wheel.


     5. Structural Damage or Fatigue: A frame or suspension component could be rusted or damaged to the point of failure. If something like a control arm or ball joint breaks, the wheel can separate from the vehicle.


     6. Overloading: Trucks that carry loads heavier than their design limits put extreme stress on wheel assemblies, which can accelerate wear and lead to failure, especially if regular inspections aren’t conducted.


     7. Poor Maintenance and Inspections: Regular inspection can identify issues early. Skipping these steps increases the risk of something critical, like wheel bearings or suspension parts, failing catastrophically.


It’s definitely a “red flag” for neglected maintenance, especially for commercial vehicles where road safety is paramount because of their size and the fact that they are load bearing for profit. While "Time may be Money" regular torque checks, inspections, and part replacements prevent these dangerous situations.


Wheels Can Become Detached From Pick-ups And Family Sedans As Well


We've all seen vehicles off on the shoulder of the road with their four-way flashers on with one of their front wheels broken right off. It appears astounding to us that someone would let something so simple get so out of hand. The cause is neglect and poor or NO maintenance.


At Ott's, when we have your tires off, or up on the lift, we are constantly evaluating the condition of our customer vehicles. What keeps you rolling. What's Stopping you. And what is going to enable you to arrive safely home to your family at the end of every day.


Avoid the Unthinkable


At Ott's Auto, when we see issues, we inform you, make our repair recommendations and schedule an appointment to address it so that your family never has to receive "that call" out of the blue... that there has been an accident.



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