Finksburg woman injured by loose tire on Route 140

An unusual traffic accident at Route 140 and Sandymount Road, one of Carroll County's most dangerous intersections, sent a woman to the hospital about 3:30 p.m. yesterday.

State police said 43-year-old Melinda W. Fisher of Finksburg was treated and released at Carroll County General Hospital after her 1989 Plymouth Voyager van was struck by a loose wheel from a tractor-trailer.

Investigators said 38-year-old Adrian D. Frock of Westminster, a driver for the Harvey Salt Co., was northbound on Route 140 and slowing for a yellow traffic signal at the intersection when he heard a loud "pop" and saw his outside left rear wheel rolling past the cab of his tractor-trailer.

The large tire bounced off the driver's side of Ms. Fisher's westbound car and then onto the hood of a Jeep pickup truck eastbound on Sandymount.

The tire and wheel shattered the windshield of the Jeep, bounced over the cab and into the bed of the truck.

Neither Mr. Frock nor the driver of the Jeep, 35-year-old Mark E. Nettleship of Finksburg, was injured.

The three vehicles were driven off the highway into the parking lot of a service station at the intersection and traffic was briefly disrupted, according to state police.