Wheel flies off semi & bounces across I-95 in St. Johns County -- killing motorist after crashing through windshield

Florida Highway Patrol: Driver of semi from Daytona Bech unhurt in freak accident

Photo for Headline Surfer® / A freak accident on I-95 in St. Johns County claimed the life of a driver as shown from the wreckage in this snapshot above.

By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A Ponte Vedra man man was killed Friday evening after a wheel flew off a tractor-trailer and bounced across the median of Interstate 95 before crashing through his windshield and causing him to wreck, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Here's a synopsis of what happened in the 5 p.m. fatality as described by Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan: The tractor-trailer, driven by 43-year-old Michael Hunter of Daytona Beach, was southbound on I-95 when the right wheel assembly separated from its rear axle. The wheel assembly traveled southeast along the interstate, striking the concrete barrier and becoming airborne.

The wheel then crashed through the windshield of 27-year-old Michael Harper's car oncoming car causing him to crash. 

Harper was transported to Flagler Hospital in Palm Coast where he died a short time later. 

Here's a synopsis of what happened in the 5 p.m. fatality as described by Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan:

The tractor-trailer, driven by 43-year-old Michael Hunter of Daytona Beach, was southbound on I-95 when the right wheel assembly separated from its rear axle. The wheel assembly traveled southeast along the interstate, striking the concrete barrier and becoming airborne. The wheel then crashed through the windshield of 27-year-old Michael Harper's car, causing him to crash. Harper was transported to Flagler Hospital in Palm Coast where he died a short time later.