UPDATE: Thanks to tips from the public, Ponoka RCMP have been able to narrow their search for the vehicle that lost a wheel that struck a vehicle and a man subsequently died as a result.
Police say the wheel belongs to either a one-ton or three-quarter ton truck, or a gooseneck flat-deck trailer, which may been lost while travelling on Highway 2.
“We’re asking drivers to check their vehicles and determine if this wheel is a piece of their equipment,” says Ponoka Sgt. Chris Smiley. “Someone out there knows something, and we hope you’ll do the right thing and come forward to the Ponoka RCMP.”
A low resolution photo of the goose neck trailer believed to be involved in the incident has been released by RCMP.
The photo was captured at approximately 7 p.m. say Ponoka RCMP. The vehicle was southbound on the Highway 2, at the Gee Road exit.
The RCMP would like to speak to the driver of that vehicle which was pulled over, 10 minutes after the collision was reported.
Background
Ponoka RCMP are investigating an incident where a 54-year-old man died after a loose tire struck his vehicle.
Emergency crews attended the scene of the incident Dec. 10 at 6:50 p.m. on Highway 2 at the Highway 53 overpass west of Ponoka. Police say the man was declared deceased at the scene.
“The vehicle appears to have lost control and struck a guard rail where the vehicle then came to rest,” states a press release.
A woman passenger in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was treated and released.
Police state that the loose tire appears to be consistent with those used on a semi trailer. It may have come dislodged from a southbound vehicle and struck the driver of the northbound vehicle.
Following this, the driver was fatally injured and lost control of the vehicle. The RCMP seek assistance from anyone who may know anything about this incident.
“This appears to be a very tragic, unexpected, freak incident,” says Ponoka Sgt. Chris Smiley. “We want to speak to anyone who might know anything, in order to bring some closure to this investigation, both from an investigational perspective and for the family’s sake.”
Photos of the tire have been supplied by RCMP.
If you have information about this investigation, please call the Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or call your local police detachment. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), by internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by SMS.