A PORT CHARLOTTE MAN WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS 32 YEAR OLD PHILLIPS VENTURA OF RIVERVIEW WAS NORTHBOUND ON 75 APPROACHING THE RIVERSIDE DRIVE OVERPASS JUST AFTER 3:30PM WHEN HIS ENTIRE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM HIS TOYOTA PICKUP AND BEGAN TO ROLL ALONG THE ROADWAY. 45 YEAR OLD DONALD LUTINSKI OF PORT CHARLOTTE WAS SEVERAL LENGTHS BEHIND BUT COULD NOT AVOID THE TIRE AND RIM, WHICH MADE HIS PICK-UP SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A METAL GUARDRAIL IN THE MEDIAN. THE TRUCK PLOWED THRU THE GUARDRAIL AND HIT A CONCRETE RETENTION WALL AT THE RIVERSIDE OVERPASS. THE IMPACT THREW LUTINSKI FROM HIS TRUCK DESPITE THE FACT HE WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. VENTURA WAS NOT INJURED. TROOPERS SAY THAT THEY ARE AWAITING RESULTS OF TESTS BEFORE DETERMINING IF LUTINSKI WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE, AND CHARGES ARE PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION.
