Tire comes off, causes injury accident on Hwy. 120

A woman was injured about 2 p.m. Saturday on Highway 120 near Dillwood Road in Oakdale after a rear tire came off a car, struck another car, then landed on the roof of a third vehicle.

The woman driving that third vehicle was taken to a hospital with moderate to major injuries, according to Officer C. Allen with the California Highway Patrol’s Modesto-area office.

Allen said the left rear tire came off of a vehicle traveling west on Highway 120 and rolled into the oncoming eastbound lane, striking a car there. That impact then caused the tire to become airborne before it landed on a Chevrolet Silverado back in the westbound lane, crushing the roof and injuring the 50-year-old driver. The Silverado had been traveling several vehicles behind the one the tire came off of, Allen said.

The accident was caused by mechanical failure, and no citations were issued, he said. Officers were still investigating Saturday afternoon.

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 7:29 PM with the headline "Tire comes off, causes injury accident on Hwy. 120."