A crash early Friday morning on I-35 northbound in Goldsby, Oklahoma, claimed the lives of three people and left others injured.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 3:48 a.m. when a Mack semi-truck collided with a passenger car that had pulled over after suffering a tire blowout. The car, reportedly driven by 56-year-old Altus Barnett of Oklahoma City, was stationary or slowed on the shoulder when the semi struck it. Barnett, along with two children—ages 12 and 8—died at the scene. Other occupants, including a 35-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy, survived with injuries. The truck driver was treated and released from a nearby hospital. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collision.
Whenever I hear about a crash where a family pulled over after a tire failure, only to be struck by a semi-truck, I think about how important it is to investigate whether product defects played a role. In my experience, tire-related incidents often raise serious questions about manufacturing flaws or substandard maintenance practices.
Could a Tire Defect Have Led to the Initial Blowout and Set This Chain of Events in Motion?
In crashes like this, the tire blowout that caused the family to stop on the shoulder is a key factor that can’t be overlooked. Investigators should carefully examine whether the tire failed due to a manufacturing defect or poor design. Sometimes, tires are sold with flaws that make them vulnerable to tread separation, sidewall failure, or rapid air loss, all of which can lead to sudden blowouts even in normal driving conditions.
Additionally, if the tire had been properly maintained and was not excessively worn, a sudden failure raises the possibility of a defect rather than neglect. Investigators should review the tire’s production records, model history, and any recalls to determine whether there was a flaw in its manufacture.
What Evidence Should Investigators Analyze to Determine the Cause?
To determine whether a defect contributed to the blowout, investigators will need to preserve the failed tire and examine it thoroughly. Specialists can inspect for signs of manufacturing irregularities, including improper bonding, sidewall weakness, or foreign materials embedded during production.
Additionally, scene evidence such as tire marks, debris patterns, and ECM data from the semi-truck will help explain how quickly the semi encountered the stopped vehicle and whether the crash could have been avoided had the blowout not occurred.
Why Thorough Investigation Into Potential Defects Is Necessary
In my experience, fatal accidents involving sudden tire blowouts are often complex and require detailed analysis to uncover the root cause. Whether this tire failed due to a defect or another issue, the only way to get answers is through careful and objective investigation. Understanding whether the tire was safe when sold and fit for continued use is essential in figuring out why this accident happened.