Tire flies off truck, causing fatal crash on I-95 in Maine

A tire traveled over the median guardrail Monday morning and hit a car traveling the other direction.

A man died on Monday in Maine when a tire flew off a vehicle, crossed a guardrail, and hit his car.

Justin Nsenga, 49, of Old Orchard Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. It occurred on I-95 near the town line between Gray and Cumberland, Maine State Police said.

Authorities responded at about 11:30 a.m. A 2021 GMC Sierra pickup truck towing a camper trailer was traveling northbound when the vehicle lost its rear, driver’s side tire. That tire “became dislodged,” traveled over the median guardrail, and struck a 2018 Mercedes sedan that was traveling southbound. Nsenga was behind the wheel of the Mercedes, police said.

The GMC was being driven by a 43-year-old from Saint-Hubert, Quebec. There were four passengers in that vehicle along with him. None of them were injured, police said.

As the initial investigation was being conducted, another crash occurred. As traffic slowed down near the scene, a 31-year-old woman from South Paris lost control of her motorcycle on the southbound side of the highway. The motorcycle skidded before stopping in the roadway, police said. She was brought to Maine Medical Center in Portland with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the initial crash is being urged to call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207-624-7076 and to ask to speak with Trooper Tom Welch. An investigation is ongoing.