PROVIDENCIA, SANTIAGO, CHILE | AUTO SAFETY | November 5, 2026
Quick Take
- Security camera video shows a wheel breaking off a moving car in Santiago, bouncing off two other vehicles and slamming into a 19-year-old student on the sidewalk.
- The student was hit in the left shoulder and head and taken to a clinic, where doctors found his injuries were not serious.
- The car’s owner told municipal officers the vehicle had just left a repair shop, and authorities are looking into what went wrong.
What’s happening?
Footage of the bizarre accident has spread across social media this week, with viewers shocked at how the wheel seemed to come out of nowhere. The clip shows the student walking along the sidewalk before the bouncing tire knocks him to the ground.
Bystanders rushed to help him, and one person grabbed the wheel as it kept rolling so it would not hit anyone else.
Where and when?
The accident happened on the morning of Thursday, October 29, on Avenida Los Leones near San PÃo X Street in Providencia, a busy commune in Chile’s capital. Chilean media reported it around 10:15 AM, while the timestamp on the security camera shows a little after 9 AM.
According to reports, a car heading north suddenly lost its front left wheel. The wheel shot down the avenue, struck two other cars and then bounced up onto the sidewalk, where it hit the student. Municipal security staff arrived within minutes to help.
By the Numbers
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Student’s age | 19 |
| Other vehicles struck by the wheel | 2 |
| Injuries reported | Forehead and chest |
| Condition | Out of danger |
How is the student doing?
The student was taken to ClÃnica Santa MarÃa in Providencia. Doctors found bruises to his forehead and the left side of his chest but no serious injuries. Reports say he was released out of danger.
Video recorded by municipal officers shows the car’s owner explaining that the vehicle had just come out of a mechanic’s shop. When told the wheel had hit a pedestrian, the driver asked whether the young man was badly hurt.
What should drivers know?
Wheels that come off cars are often linked to lug nuts that were not tightened properly after service work. Mechanics generally recommend having lug nuts checked again after the first 50 to 100 miles following a tire change or repair.
Drivers should also pay attention to warning signs such as vibration, a clunking noise or a wobble in the steering wheel. If something feels off after leaving a repair shop, pull over safely and have the wheels inspected before continuing.
What comes next?
Chilean authorities are investigating why the wheel came loose and whether the repair shop’s work played a role. No charges or fines have been announced. The owner of the car has not been publicly identified.
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