Pickup Rollover Accident
The right rear wheel of a pickup was found nearby the vehicle after a rollover accident. The
“mag wheel" failed in the spokes
and welded spoke attachment feet. Two other “mag” wheels on the subject pickup were also observed to be fractured. Did the wheel loss cause the rollover or was
the wheel loss a result of the rollover?
Photograph A: Overall view of subject pickup
involved in a one vehicle rollover accident
The rollover accident occurred in the early evening.
The weather was clear and the roadway was dry and straight. The welds attaching the spokes to the wheel rim
visually appeared less than adequate. However, failure did not initiate nor propagate through
the spoke attachment welds.
It was determined that the fracture of the axle and loss of the "mag wheel" on
the subject truck were caused by the rollover accident.
Photograph B: Close-up view of "mag wheel" with broken wheel rim spokes.
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Thus, the deficient welding design and welding defects
present in the subject "mag wheel" were not the cause of this
rollover accident.
Examination of skid marks and the lack of roadway gouges precluded
the accident being the result of wheel rim failure.
Axle Failure and wheel loss were the result of forces experienced during the rollover, rather
than wheel loss causing the truck to rollover.
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Dr.
R. Craig Jerner, Ph.D., PE specializes in accident
investigation and metallurgical failure analysis,
with over 30 years experience as a metallurgical consultant and accident investigator. He has testified as a metallurgical expert in over
250 depositions and
more than 70 court appearances. If you or someone you know should need the services of Dr. Jerner and J.E.I. Metallurgical, please visit our web site at the buttons below, or e-mail Dr. Jerner --- 