COLUMBUS – A man was killed on the East Side Tuesday morning after his minivan was struck by a wheel that flew off a pickup as the two vehicles drove on a busy interstate, police said.
Dallas Johnson, 79, of Thornville, was driving his 1997 Ford Ranger westbound on I-70 at Kelton Avenue at 9:10 a.m. when the truck’s left front wheel became detached from the vehicle and was propelled into the eastbound lanes, striking a Toyota Sienna in the driver’s side windshield and roof area, said Det. Ron Moder of the Columbus police Accident Investigation Unit said.
The Toyota traveled south out of control, across an on ramp, up an embankment, through a fence and on to Mooberry Street where it came to rest, Moder said.
The driver of the minivan, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at scene. The man’s identity will become available upon confirmation by the Franklin County Coroner and next-of-kin notification, Moder said.