Cargo Truck Wheel Strikes Without Warning... Bus Driver Protects Passengers Until the End

Driver Controlled the Vehicle to the End, Preventing Secondary Accidents

Transported to Hospital in Cardiac Arrest, but Did Not Survive

Police: "Investigating Possible Poor Maintenance of Cargo Truck"

An accident occurred in which a wheel detached from a cargo truck traveling on the highway and struck an express bus driving in the opposite lane, resulting in the death of the bus driver. It has been reported that, despite suffering fatal injuries, the driver managed to steer the vehicle onto the shoulder, preventing further accidents, which has drawn even more sympathy.

On March 18, according to the police and fire authorities, the accident took place at around 3:51 p.m. near the Poseung Junction (JC) on the Seohaean Expressway in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in the direction of Dangjin. At that time, a rear wheel suddenly detached from a 4.5-ton cargo truck traveling on the northbound lane. The wheel bounced over the central divider and was propelled into the southbound lane.

In this accident, Mr. A, a male bus driver in his 60s, died, and three passengers were slightly injured by glass shards. Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters

The detached wheel struck the driver's seat of the express bus coming from the opposite direction. Due to the severe impact, the bus driver, Mr. A (in his 60s), went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital, but ultimately passed away. There were passengers on the bus at the time of the accident, and it was confirmed that 2 to 3 of them suffered minor injuries and received treatment at the hospital. Fortunately, their lives are not in danger.

Notably, Mr. A is reported to have managed to control the vehicle and bring it to a stop on the shoulder even after sustaining serious injuries immediately after the accident. This action is believed to have prevented secondary collisions with following vehicles and protected the passengers from further harm. The police are investigating the cause of the accident, focusing on how the wheel became detached from the cargo truck traveling in the opposite lane. In particular, they are closely examining the vehicle's maintenance condition, potential part defects, and the management responsibility of the driver.

Cargo Truck Wheels: Deadly Projectiles on the Highway

This is not the first time a wheel detachment accident has occurred on the highway. Similar accidents have happened multiple times in the past. In 2023, a cargo truck wheel detached on the Jungbu Expressway and struck an oncoming vehicle, resulting in a fatality, and in 2021, a similar type of accident on a metropolitan expressway led to serious injuries. Most of these incidents occur while vehicles are traveling at high speeds, which increases the scale of damage.

The main causes of wheel detachment accidents are ▲improper wheel nut fastening ▲insufficient maintenance ▲overloading ▲and aging of parts. Especially in the case of cargo trucks, regular inspections are essential due to the rapid accumulation of part fatigue caused by long-distance driving and heavy loads.

If a wheel detaches from a cargo truck causing an accident, it can lead to criminal liability beyond a simple accident. If it is confirmed that the accident occurred due to poor maintenance or negligence in management, not only the driver but also the vehicle owner or the transportation company may face charges of professional negligence resulting in death. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

As such, a detached wheel is not merely a piece of falling debris—it becomes a high-speed projectile. On highways, where vehicles often travel at speeds exceeding 100 km/h, the energy of impact is extremely high in the event of a collision.

In particular, when a wheel crosses the central divider, vehicles in the opposite lane have virtually no time to avoid a direct impact. If the wheel strikes the driver's seat, the likelihood of fatal injury is very high. In this accident as well, it is believed that the wheel directly struck the driver's seat, causing fatal injuries to the driver.

Growing Need for Enhanced Safety Management Across the Transportation Industry

If a wheel detaches from a cargo truck causing an accident, it can lead to criminal liability beyond a simple accident. If it is confirmed that the accident was caused by poor maintenance or negligence in management, not only the driver but also the vehicle owner or the transportation company may face charges of professional negligence resulting in death. In addition, violations of vehicle inspection obligations under the Automobile Management Act can result in fines or criminal penalties. If gross negligence is recognized, civil liability for damages may be imposed separately from any insurance settlement.

In particular, there has been a recent trend toward extending business liability in the event of serious accidents, highlighting the growing need for enhanced safety management across the entire transportation industry. To prevent similar accidents, proactive measures are most important. Thorough pre-trip inspections must be conducted, and the condition of wheels, tires, and nuts must be checked at regular intervals. There is also a call for regular training for cargo truck drivers and for transportation companies to establish systematic management systems.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.