3-Year-Old Shannon Boy Injured By Blown Tractor-Trailer Tire

On September 1, a 3-year-old child suffered personal injuries when a blown-out tire from a passing tractor-trailer struck him.

According to North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper D.E. Raynor, 3-year-old Dillon Andrades sustained severe injuries while playing in the front yard of a residence on N.C. 71 in Shannon, approximately one-half mile south of Shannon Road. The incident took place shortly after 7 p.m.

Raynor said that at the time, Andrades was playing with a group of children approximately 30 feet from the highway when a tire from a passing tractor-trailer driven by Alcolou, South Carolina resident Phillip Oliver blew out. The tire came off of the rim, rolled into the yard, and struck Andrades.

According to Raynor, Oliver was southbound on N.C. 71 at a rate of about 40 mph when he heard and felt the vehicle’s front tire blow. He then pulled the truck over to the side of the road. Upon exiting the vehicle in order to inspect the damage, he heard people yelling from a nearby residence.

Andrades received transport to Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. He was then airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. According to a hospital spokeswoman, he was still in the emergency room as of 10:30 p.m. the night of the incident and no medical condition was immediately made available.

Raynor said the tire was fairly new and had been placed on the truck the week before the accident.