TUKWILA, Wash. - Wheels that broke off a truck killed a man who was riding in a van on Interstate 5 in Tukwila on Friday, troopers said.

The set of dual wheels came off the truck that was heading northbound and bounced over the median before hitting the windshield of the van heading southbound, troopers said.

A 31-year-old Bothell man was killed instantly by the tire’s force and two other people were hurt.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating how the wheels came loose.

The truck stopped on an off-ramp about one mile north of the incident, Chopper 7 pilot Clark Stahl said.

Copyright 2007 by KIROTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

BACK TO "IN THE NEWS" ARCHIVE