Tire comes off Subaru on I-25, hits and kills passing motorcyclist

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KKTV) – A motorcyclist was killed on the highway Sunday morning when the tire on a nearby Subaru came off and struck the driver.

The tragic accident, which a State Patrol spokesman described as a bizarre accident, occurred at 8:56 a.m. on southbound I-25 just before the Interquest (153) exit.

State Patrol was initially called to what was described as a collision between a Harley Davidson and the Subaru. When officers arrived at the scene, the motorcyclist was unconscious on the ground and surrounded by other motorcyclists, according to witnesses. Emergency responders attempted numerous life-saving measures, including using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to resuscitate the motorcyclist, but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the hospital.

After further investigation, troopers determined that the motorcycle and the Subaru were traveling on opposite sides of the highway when the Subaru's tire came off and it veered from the northbound lane into the southbound lane directly in the path of the oncoming driver.

The State Patrol told 11 News the driver could potentially be charged with operating an unsafe vehicle. Exact charges are unclear; a State Patrol official said the charge could be for reckless driving or for failing to maintain the vehicle.

At the time of writing, the identity of the motorcyclist was not yet publicly known.

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