No charges for pickup driver after runaway tire causes 118 Freeway crash

The full story

On March 23, 2023, a dashcam recorded a violent collision on the eastbound 118 Freeway in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. As a white Chevrolet Silverado traveled in the middle lane, its front driver’s side wheel detached and rolled into the path of a black Kia Soul in the left lane. The impact launched the Kia into the air, causing it to flip multiple times before coming to a rest on the highway. Despite the severity of the crash, the 29-year-old driver of the Kia Soul was able to walk away from the wreckage with only minor injuries. The driver of the pickup truck, a 24-year-old man, continued driving for a short distance before pulling over to the right shoulder to stop safely. While some initial public speculation suggested the truck driver might have been attempting to flee, California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Weston Haver clarified that the driver was following standard safety procedures by moving to the shoulder. Following an investigation, the CHP concluded that the incident was a mechanical accident rather than a result of reckless driving or speeding. Consequently, no criminal charges were pursued against the truck driver, and no civil litigation has been reported in the time since the event.