2 dead after set of tires comes off truck, hitting car

Authorities say two Illinois residents have died after a set of tires on a semi-truck came loose along Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan, striking a car with three people inside.

The Portage Department of Public Safety says the car’s 67-year-old backseat passenger Rebecca Avery of Glenview died at the scene of the Saturday crash and the 34-year-old driver Michael Ditewig of Chicago died Sunday afternoon at a hospital in Kalamazoo.

A front seat passenger in the car had what were described by authorities as non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators say Ditewig was heading east on the interstate in Portage when the car was struck by the westbound truck’s wheel and tire assembly, which went over the median into the eastbound lanes. Authorities say the crash is under investigation.  (AP)