DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A tragic and highly unusual accident unfolded during the early morning commute on Monday along Interstate 285 West at the I-85 interchange in DeKalb County, leaving one woman dead after a runaway tractor-trailer tire struck her in a rest area parking lot.
According to investigators with the Georgia State Patrol, the deadly incident occurred shortly before 8:00 a.m., when a large tire detached from a moving tractor-trailer traveling westbound on I-285. Witnesses report that the tire, believed to be a rear axle tire from the trailer, broke free and began bouncing erratically across several lanes of heavy traffic.
In what police have described as a “freak and unforeseeable chain of events,” the massive tire launched airborne, cleared a roadside guardrail, and bounced over a rest area building before striking a woman who had just exited a Mercedes-Benz SUV. The impact was fatal.
Emergency crews were called to the scene, where they found the woman unresponsive in the parking lot of the I-285 rest area. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by bystanders and first responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released pending next-of-kin notification. Authorities have confirmed that she was in her mid-40s and was traveling alone at the time of the accident.
“This was a horrific, unpredictable tragedy,” said DeKalb County Police spokesperson Lt. Maria Holland. “We don’t typically see incidents like this. The randomness and violence of it are what make it especially shocking.”
The Mercedes SUV, parked just feet from where the woman was struck, sustained visible damage to its front end and windshield, where debris from the tire’s initial impact rained down. Investigators say the woman had just stepped out of the vehicle and was walking toward the building when the tire came crashing down.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are now working to identify the truck and company involved in the tire detachment. Surveillance footage from the area and traffic cameras on the highway are being reviewed to trace the origin of the rogue tire.
Georgia State Patrol’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division is assisting with the investigation, focusing on possible equipment failure, improper maintenance, or overuse of the tire. In commercial trucking, tire separations can occur due to under-inflation, worn-out treads, or loose wheel assemblies—all of which can be prevented with regular inspections.
“Every component of a commercial truck must be secure and road-ready before it hits the highway,” said a GSP official at the scene. “When that doesn’t happen, the results can be catastrophic, as we sadly saw today.”
Community Shocked by Sudden Loss
News of the accident has left many in the community and on social media expressing disbelief. “You never expect something like this—a tire flying over a building? It’s surreal,” said one witness who had stopped at the same rest area moments earlier.
The victim was reportedly on her way to a nearby business appointment and had stopped to make a quick phone call in the parking area when the accident occurred.
A memorial with flowers and candles has begun to grow near the spot where she was struck. Friends, family, and even strangers have stopped by to pay respects, many expressing anger and heartbreak over what many are calling a “preventable” incident.
Safety Concerns and Industry Accountability
This tragic case has reignited conversations around trucking safety and the dangers of improperly maintained commercial vehicles on America’s highways. Tire blowouts and separations are not unheard of, but rarely do they result in fatalities far from the highway itself.
Experts say today’s incident illustrates the importance of both strict enforcement of vehicle maintenance standards and enhanced public awareness about the hazards posed by high-speed truck components.
“Flying debris from highways—be it tires, tools, or even unsecured cargo—continues to be a serious and sometimes overlooked threat to roadside safety,” said transportation analyst Jordan Myers.
Call for Witnesses
Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen the tire dislodge or who has dashcam footage from I-285 West around the time of the incident to contact Georgia State Patrol or DeKalb County Police.
“This woman was doing something so ordinary—walking to her car—and her life ended in an instant,” Lt. Holland said. “We owe it to her and her loved ones to fully understand how and why this happened.”
As the investigation continues, grief hangs heavy over what was meant to be a normal Monday morning in DeKalb County—a heartbreaking reminder that even the most routine moments can change in the blink of an eye.
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