Passenger Killed by Detached Wheel on Autoroute 15 in Brossard
A 37-year-old man died after a loose tire struck his vehicle on the highway Monday evening.
A fatal traffic incident occurred on Autoroute 15 in Brossard, Quebec, on Monday evening, resulting in the death of a 37-year-old passenger. The incident took place at approximately 5:20 p.m. as the victim was traveling in a van heading northbound between Matte Boulevard and Riviera Street.
According to the Sûreté du Québec, the provincial police force, the tragedy unfolded when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction lost a wheel. The detached tire crossed into the northbound lanes and struck the windshield of the van, directly impacting the passenger seat where the 37-year-old man was sitting.
Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after the collision. The passenger was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Neither the driver of the van nor the driver of the vehicle that lost the wheel sustained physical injuries in the accident.
The van involved in the collision belongs to T. Ingram Interiors, an upholstery business based in Saint-Lambert. According to administrative staff at the company, the vehicle was occupied by the business owner and his son at the time of the crash. Reports suggest the victim was the 86-year-old owner's son, who reportedly died from the impact.
The 86-year-old driver was not seriously injured but was described as being in a state of shock following the event. The van remained at the scene for several hours into the evening, with its damaged windshield covered by a yellow tarp while investigators examined the area.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the wheel detachment. When asked by reporters if the incident could be linked to dangerous social media activities, such as the 'lug nut challenge' where individuals intentionally loosen vehicle wheel bolts, Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Kim Cormier stated that the investigation is ongoing and declined to speculate on a specific cause at this time.