A St. Charles woman died July 28, nearly a week after a loose tire fell off the back of an unknown truck hauling a trailer and then struck the SUV the woman was driving in the westbound lane of I-44, east of Lewis Road, authorities reported.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, 38-year-old Emily Ludwig of St. Charles sustained critical injuries in the accident and was taken to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur. She was pronounced dead on July 28 at the hospital, a Mercy spokeswoman said.
The accident occurred at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, after the tire fell off the back of the eastbound trailer and crossed into westbound traffic and struck the front windshield of the 2013 Kia Sorento Ludwig was driving, causing the SUV to run off the left side of the road and strike the concrete median.
The vehicle then traveled off the right side of the road, the report said.
Ludwig was taken by the Fenton Fire Protection District to Mercy Hospital St. Louis, according to the report.
She was wearing a seat belt, the patrol reported.
The woman’s 2013 Kia Sorento was extensively damaged, according to the report.