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OK, it was in Florida, not Russia, and a tire/rim, not a doughnut.
But damn if it didn't have eyes!
But damn if it didn't have eyes!
Acreage man dies after freak accident with runaway tire
By Rochelle E.B. Gilken
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
At the moment he was struck down, William Corum had his back to the highway.
Which is why he didn't see the tire coming as he worked 1,000 feet away.
But it flew toward him at about 60 mph, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Roger Reyes.
"It was a total freak accident," said Corum's sister, Donna Cheatham. "It's like a massive area and to have beelined right to him is just incredible. He could've been five inches one way or the other, and it would've missed him."
The tire struck his right side, rim and all, rolled up Corum's back to his head and knocked him unconscious. That was a week ago today. He died four days later, on Easter Sunday, but his children, 12-year-old Billy and 14-year-old Shelby, didn't find out until Monday so it wouldn't ruin their holiday.
For the past 10 years, the family has lived in The Acreage. Corum operated his construction equipment business, Precision Gradall, while his wife of 16 years, Karen, worked as a dental hygienist in West Palm Beach.
"She is devastated. She feels like half of her life is gone," Cheatham said.
On Wednesday, around 8:30 a.m., Corum, 47, was working on one of his construction vehicles in a grassy area 150 feet from the ramp where cars exit the Sawgrass Expressway for Atlantic Boulevard near Tamarac.
That same morning, 26-year-old Carl Pierre of Lauderdale Lakes borrowed his father's 1991 Ford Explorer to get to work. He was going north on Sawgrass when the steering wheel started shaking and a rear tire flew off. Pierre was able to pull over safely.
The tire went 1,000 feet up the exit ramp, past light poles and a guardrail and into the construction zone.
Pierre didn't know someone was hit until he went looking for the tire and saw emergency responders, Cheatham said.
Rescue workers got there almost immediately because an off-duty officer saw the tire coming off and called the Florida Highway Patrol, Cheatham said.
No one reported seeing the tire hit Corum.
One of Corum's co-workers was sitting in a tow vehicle when he glanced back and saw him working. A moment later, he looked again and Corum was gone.
He got out, saw Corum and the tire and called 911. Corum's injuries were devastating: A broken rib punctured his lung. His eye socket, jaw and a vertebra were broken. His skull was fractured, Cheatham said.
Reyes said an autopsy is being done and investigators have taken the car to determine what was wrong with it. No charges have been filed.
Corum leaves behind one brother and four sisters.
"We're a very close family, so this is very difficult," Cheatham said. Corum bought a boat last year and enjoyed fishing. He spent free time with his children, traveling to their karate tournaments. He liked to golf and watch the Miami Dolphins.
Corum's family set up a fund in Karen Corum's name at Washington Mutual bank to benefit her children.
By Rochelle E.B. Gilken
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
At the moment he was struck down, William Corum had his back to the highway.
Which is why he didn't see the tire coming as he worked 1,000 feet away.
But it flew toward him at about 60 mph, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Roger Reyes.
"It was a total freak accident," said Corum's sister, Donna Cheatham. "It's like a massive area and to have beelined right to him is just incredible. He could've been five inches one way or the other, and it would've missed him."
The tire struck his right side, rim and all, rolled up Corum's back to his head and knocked him unconscious. That was a week ago today. He died four days later, on Easter Sunday, but his children, 12-year-old Billy and 14-year-old Shelby, didn't find out until Monday so it wouldn't ruin their holiday.
For the past 10 years, the family has lived in The Acreage. Corum operated his construction equipment business, Precision Gradall, while his wife of 16 years, Karen, worked as a dental hygienist in West Palm Beach.
"She is devastated. She feels like half of her life is gone," Cheatham said.
On Wednesday, around 8:30 a.m., Corum, 47, was working on one of his construction vehicles in a grassy area 150 feet from the ramp where cars exit the Sawgrass Expressway for Atlantic Boulevard near Tamarac.
That same morning, 26-year-old Carl Pierre of Lauderdale Lakes borrowed his father's 1991 Ford Explorer to get to work. He was going north on Sawgrass when the steering wheel started shaking and a rear tire flew off. Pierre was able to pull over safely.
The tire went 1,000 feet up the exit ramp, past light poles and a guardrail and into the construction zone.
Pierre didn't know someone was hit until he went looking for the tire and saw emergency responders, Cheatham said.
Rescue workers got there almost immediately because an off-duty officer saw the tire coming off and called the Florida Highway Patrol, Cheatham said.
No one reported seeing the tire hit Corum.
One of Corum's co-workers was sitting in a tow vehicle when he glanced back and saw him working. A moment later, he looked again and Corum was gone.
He got out, saw Corum and the tire and called 911. Corum's injuries were devastating: A broken rib punctured his lung. His eye socket, jaw and a vertebra were broken. His skull was fractured, Cheatham said.
Reyes said an autopsy is being done and investigators have taken the car to determine what was wrong with it. No charges have been filed.
Corum leaves behind one brother and four sisters.
"We're a very close family, so this is very difficult," Cheatham said. Corum bought a boat last year and enjoyed fishing. He spent free time with his children, traveling to their karate tournaments. He liked to golf and watch the Miami Dolphins.
Corum's family set up a fund in Karen Corum's name at Washington Mutual bank to benefit her children.
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