Runaway Wheels Are More Dangerous Than You Probably Think

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We’ve heard quite a few people laugh about seeing a runaway wheel rolling down a road, whether it’s after an accident or just one that comes off a vehicle suddenly. We’ve seen serious accidents when these wheels collide with cars, buildings, or people, including many that are fatal.

Watch a reality TV star crash his Ferrari F430.

Perhaps the most potent example comes out of California. The front driver-side wheel came off the axle, rolled right in front of a Kia Soul, and sent the little crossover flying into the air like something out of a cartoon.

People were amazed a wheel could do such a thing, but we’ve seen them peel the roof off a car, rip through the safety glass on windshields like it’s paper, act like a wrecking ball on buildings, and bowl over pedestrians violently.