Warwick, RI – A truck tire lying in the third travel lane on Rte. 95 north near the Rte. 117 ramps launched the rear of an SUV two feet into the air Tuesday morning at about 8:50 a.m. before the debris slid into the passing lane.
At least one other car, a Honda Civic, also struck the tire, which caused heavy front-end damage to the vehicle.
“At (Rte.) 117 there was debris and a tire in the road, which the SUV next to me ran over at about 60 mph and launched into the air. I thought it was going to roll. The funny thing was they didn’t even pull over to see if there was damage to their car or anything,” said Mary Carlos, a contributor to Warwick Post.
Carlos said the incident looked like a monster-truck stunt.
“It looked like both driver’s side tires of the SUV went over the tire and the back end really bounced over it, that’s why I thought it might roll,” Carlos said, “After it (the tire) sort of bounced/slid over to the passing lane.” She said the back tires were knocked two feet into the air.
Shortly after, Carlos said she saw a car pulling over in the left-hand breakdown lane with heavy front-end damage.
A RI State Police Patrol Division spokesman said two vehicles, the Honda and a Toyota Highlander, struck a tire lying in the passing lane of Rte. 95 North, just south of Rte. 295.
The Honda was towed from the scene with heavy front end damage. The second vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, received moderate damage but was still operable. There were no injuries reported as a result of the strikes, according to State Police.
Police said the origin of the tire is unknown.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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