Boy changing tire on I-80 struck by detached wheel

HAMMOND, Ind. - A boy was hospitalized for potentially life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a wheel on I-80 Tuesday morning. 

Indiana State Police responded reports of a pedestrian struck on I-80/94 at the 0.4 mile-marker around 10:30 a.m. 

A passenger vehicle was parked on the right side of the eastbound lanes and the occupants were outside the car working on changing a flat tire. 

A semi operated by PDQ Trucking LLC out of Mendota was traveling eastbound at the same location when a wheel from the trailer disengaged from the rear tandem. 

Police say the wheel came off due to mechanical issues. 

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The tire was still attached to the rim when it struck the south barrier and continued to travel east along the barrier wall.  The wheel then struck a 15-year-old male that was assisting with the tire change.  

That victim was transported to a local hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Chicago for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.  

Four other individuals outside the vehicle also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.  

The driver of the semi was transported to a local hospital for toxicology tests, which police say is standard protocol in these types of incidents. Drug and alcohol results are pending, but they are not believed to be a factor in the crash. 

The truck was impounded for a post-crash inspection.