Ingrid Zapata Died in Pomona Car Accident After Tire Went Through Vehicle’s Windshield 

Tire From Blue Pickup Truck Became Lethal Projectile After Coming Loose on Interstate 60 in Pomona Crash That Killed Ingrid Zapata

POMONA, CALIFORNIA (August 11, 2025) – Ingrid Zapata has tragically died in a Pomona car accident on Interstate 60 after a tire came off a pickup truck.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the collision took place around 2:30 a.m. on Monday. A tire reportedly came off of a blue pickup truck near the eastbound lanes of the Interstate.

That tire continued to travel before violently crashing through the windshield of a white sedan. Paramedics were called to the scene to help Ingrid Zapata.

Sadly, one person in the sedan later died due to the severe nature of their injuries. It remains unclear why the tire came off the pickup truck. 

A full investigation into the Pomona car accident remains ongoing.

Common Causes of Tires Coming Loose From Vehicles 

Accidents involving problems or malfunctions with a vehicle’s tire may seem like freak occurrences. But these incidents are unfortunately relatively common. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “In 2023, a total of 646 people died on the road in tire-related crashes. Poor tire maintenance—not having enough air in your tires and failing to rotate your tires, among other maintenance requirements—can lead to a flat tire, blowout, or the tread coming off your tire.” There are several reasons that a tire may completely separate from a vehicle.

• Under Tightened: The lug nuts that hold a tire in place may not have been properly tightened. Small vibrations can eventually cause these components to come loose and allow a tire to completely separate from a vehicle.
• Damaged Wheel Studs: Another common cause of tires coming loose is damage to a vehicle’s wheel studs. This could be due to corrosion, age, or over-tightening.
• Axle or Suspension Component Failure: In certain instances, any type of damage to the axle or suspension of a vehicle may allow for the entire wheel assembly to come loose. 

These incidents are virtually never random occurrences. They tend to be the result of one or more different failures. The factors that could contribute to any tire coming off a vehicle could take place hours, days, weeks, or even months prior to any incident. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any accident involving a faulty tire. 

Liability for Los Angeles County Car Accidents Involving Loose Tires

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous liable parties for any accident where a tire comes loose from a vehicle. Vehicle owners have a legal obligation to properly maintain their vehicles at all times. They must address known defects to prevent collisions. Failing to properly maintain a vehicle that malfunctioned on the freeway may be construed as negligence. There could be several other liable parties for any accident involving a vehicle malfunction.

• Auto Repair Shop: In the vast majority of cases, people rely on auto repair shops to maintain and secure the tires that they purchase. If these shops fail to adequately install tires that come loose, they could be held at fault for any resulting damages.
• Vehicle Manufacturer: Companies that manufacture vehicles have a legal obligation to ensure that those vehicles are reasonably safe. They could be liable for an accident if a design defect with a vehicle or its component parts allowed a tire to become a dangerous projectile on the freeway. 
• Businesses: If a pickup truck or other vehicle was being used for commercial purposes, the business owner of that vehicle could be responsible. Businesses have a legal obligation to routinely inspect and adequately maintain all of the vehicles that they utilize. 

It can be difficult to know where to begin after any car accident. To make matters worse, drivers and their insurance providers will often fight hard to deny any responsibility for what happened. They may shift the blame to several different entities. This is why it is so important that any collision caused by a vehicle malfunction is properly investigated by an outside party. The family of any person who died in such a collision may be able to pursue some measure of justice through a civil action.

Investigating Los Angeles County Car Accidents

We at the Carrillo Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ingrid Zapata who died in this Los Angeles County car accident on Interstate 60. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. So many questions remain unanswered at this time. When was the last time this pickup truck was maintained? Who was the person or entity that secured the tires on this truck?

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County car accident? Our team of investigators can help get to the bottom of what caused any collision. We are determined to get accident victims the information and support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.