A Brevard County woman was in serious condition at a hospital after being hit by a wayward tire that flew off a dump truck traveling down the road.
- Brevard woman hit by tire that fell off dump truck
- Truck hauling Hurricane Matthew debris down when axle broke
- Woman hospitalized is in serious condition
Troopers said Sherry Woodhouse, 68, was putting groceries into her vehicle at Thrifty Produce and Meat parking lot on Courtenay Parkway late Thursday when an axle on a dump truck hauling Hurricane Matthew debris broke loose, sending a large tandem tire toward her.
Woodhouse arm was hurt when she was struck by the tire and knocked to the ground.
"It's a freak accident for sure," said Denise Lukinovich, a frequent shopper at Thrifty Produce. She said it could have been her hurt in the bizarre accident.
"The chances of her being there, and that wheel coming off..." Lukinovich said.
Eddie Gonzalez was working at Gatto's Tire and Auto Service and witnessed the incident.
"It just came flying, hit the curb, as soon as it hit the curb, it hit the van. As soon as it hit the van, then it hit the lady. Next thing, the lady just drops on the ground," Gonzalez said.
According to officials, Woodhouse was airlifted to Holmes Regional. Her son and ex-husband came to the scene Friday afternoon to take away the van away. They said Woodhouse is doing OK and should be released soon.
The driver of the dump truck, Terry McDougal, 52, was uninjured. Troopers said the truck that lost the tire wasn't in bad condition, and there is no negligence involved.
"It's not something that was a deliberate act," Lukinovich said.
The Florida Department of Transportation said the truck hauling hurricane debris is not a contractor for the state and was working privately.
The crash is still under investigation.