Tire blowout on I-15 claims two lives

Utah Highway Patrol photo

Highway Patrol urges motorists to check their tires regularly

August 12, 2018  ​•   Nelson Phillips   •  Staff Writer

Two Malad, Idaho men have died after their pickup truck tire separated while traveling along I-15 late Saturday morning.

According to Lieutenant Lee Perry of the Utah Highway Patrol, at approximately 11:47 a.m. the truck, a black 2000 Ford F-250, was travelling northbound on I-15 near mile marker 387 at normal freeway speeds when the passenger front tire tread separated, causing the tire to blow and the driver to lose control.

"The truck veered off the roadway to the right and traveled a short distance before jumping a runoff ditch and rolling onto its roof," said Perry. "The driver was killed instantly, and the adult front seat male passenger was critically injured." A 13-year-old boy who was riding in the backseat suffered minor facial injuries, and was treated at Bear River Valley Hospital and released.

The driver has been identified as 44-year-old John A. Ward. The injured passenger, identified as 33-year-old Peter J. Ward, was taken by ambulance to Bear River Valley Hospital, and then airlifted to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, where he succumbed to his injuries late Saturday night.

None of the truck's occupants were wearing seat belts. Investigators have zeroed in on the age of the truck's tires as the cause of the accident.

"All four tires were from the same manufacturer, and were approximately eight years old," said Perry. "People should realize that tires only have a 72 month guaranteed life span, so they need to think about replacing tires that are more than six years old."

Perry also suggested checking tire pressure weekly, making sure that tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommendation, and also to check sidewalls for cracks and tread for any signs of separation.

"Separation can not always be detected until it occurs, however, so you should replace old outdated tires," he said.