A man died after a detached wheel struck his vehicle on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) in St. Catharines, Ontario, on Tuesday. The incident occurred shortly before noon in the Toronto-bound lanes, just east of Niagara Street.

According to Ontario Provincial Police, the wheel came off a pickup truck traveling toward Fort Erie. It crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a vehicle carrying two U.S. citizens. The driver, a 53-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 52-year-old male passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

The driver of the pickup truck, who was the only occupant, was not injured. OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt emphasized the suddenness of such incidents, stating, "There’s nothing, really, drivers can do (in a situation like this). It just happens so quickly. And you really have no time to react, seeing something coming at you at twice the speed limit."

The highway was closed in both directions for approximately four hours as police conducted their investigation. Motorists traveling toward Toronto were advised to exit at Glendale Avenue in Niagara-on-the-Lake and re-enter at Niagara Street. Those heading toward Fort Erie were instructed to exit at Niagara Street and re-enter just past Welland Avenue.

This incident is part of a troubling trend involving detached wheels on highways. In May 2024, a similar incident resulted in one death and three serious injuries when a loose wheel struck a coach bus on the QEW. The Ontario Provincial Police have noted that loose wheels can cause significant accidents, with about 100 wheel-separation incidents reported annually in the Golden Horseshoe Area alone.

In response to past tragedies, Ontario implemented stricter regulations in the late 1990s, holding vehicle owners accountable for lost wheels. Despite these measures, incidents continue to occur, highlighting the importance of proper vehicle maintenance.